CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has no illusions about what's ahead for the 11th-ranked Tigers, both this week and for the rest of the season.
Clemson (6-1, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) comes off its second bye week into what looks like a difficult November, starting with offensive-minded Louisville (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday. Swinney called the Cardinals and seventh-year quarterback Tyler Shough the best attack Clemson has faced since getting steamrolled by Georgia, 34-3, in the opener in August. The Cardinals' three defeats, Swinney pointed out, have come by a total of 21 points.
“So, they’ve been in some very, very competitive games," the coach cautioned. "We’ve got our hands full there.” And maybe for much of November, where the Tigers have gone a combined 30-4 since the 2015 season with only two of those defeats coming at home.
Following Louisville, Clemson goes on a tricky, two-game road stretch to Virginia Tech and No. 18 Pitt. It closes the year at home against archrival South Carolina.
The Tigers must continue to show the discipline and attention to the little things that's led them to six straight wins and get through the month with their championship goals intact, Clemson safety R.J. Mickens said.
“If we really want to win this whole thing, we’ve really got to be more detailed and more precise because things like that can cost us,” he said. Clemson's leading receiver from last year, Tyler Brown, will miss his second straight game due t.