The misery will subside somewhat for either Clemson or North Carolina this weekend.
Two teams that have suffered much-discussed defeats across the first month of the season meet in a Saturday afternoon Atlantic Coast Conference game at Chapel Hill, N.C.
“We’ve got eight games left. We got a long way to go. Why can’t we be the hottest team in America?” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this week. “… There’s a lot of opportunity ahead for everyone.”
Both teams had last week off, so they’ve had extra time to prepare — or stew — since their most recent setbacks.
Clemson (1-3, 0-2 ACC) is on a two-game skid. North Carolina (2-2, 0-0) has lost both of its games against Power 4 conference competition, including two weeks ago at UCF.
Swinney called the season a coaching failure so far, but he hasn’t given up.
“I can fix it,” he said. “I will fix it. We’ve always fixed things in this program.”
Clemson’s status as the ACC preseason favorite was derailed by losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. The Tigers, who also lost their opener to LSU, were even in the conversation as preseason contenders for the national title.
North Carolina, meanwhile, was looking for a turnaround in legendary coach Bill Belichick’s first go-around on the college level. It has been far from that heading into his first ACC contest.
“We need a win a lot worse than he does,” Swinney said.
Belichick said he has tremendous respect for Swinney and the Clemson program.
“Those guys are tough,” Belichick said. “They love football. … They definitely know what they’re doing. Turnovers have hurt them in a couple of those losses, probably all of them.”
UNC’s quarterback situation might be in flux. Gio Lopez exited the last game with an injured right leg, leaving the duties to Max Johnson.
“We’ll see what he’s able to do (in practice),” Belichick said of Lopez.
Whoever starts at QB, they’ll be looking to boost a UNC offense that has managed just 23 points in two games against Power Four teams this season.
Swinney said he’s sticking with the players in the roles they’ve had across the first few games of the season and isn’t making changes to the depth chart. He said the Tigers are in a good position in terms of limited injuries.
Clemson’s Cade Klubnik has been inconsistent, throwing for six touchdowns and four interceptions.
Swinney said the Tar Heels are bound to be looking to make a statement because Clemson has traditionally been a top team.
“People don’t forget that just (because) we’re off to a bad start this year,” he said. “You know you’re going to get everybody’s best shot.”
