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Clemson Football Schedule, 2011

Feb. 14, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson will play one of its most difficult schedules in history in 2011, according the slate of games announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday. Ten of Clemson’s 11 FBS opponents went to bowl games last year, including six who won at least nine games in 2010. Additionally, Wofford, Clemson’s FBS opponent, was 10-3 and reached the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

Clemson’s three FBS non-conference opponents had a combined 31-10 record last year, a .756 winning percentage. That list includes defending National Champion Auburn, who comes to Clemson on September 17. Troy (8-5) and South Carolina (9-5) also had outstanding seasons in 2010.

Overall, Clemson’s 12 opponents in 2011 had a 104-55 record last year, a .654 winning percentage. Each of Clemson’s first five opponents won at least eight games, including four in a row who won at least 10 games.

Clemson has a stretch of consecutive games against Auburn (14-0), Florida State (10-4) and Virginia Tech (11-3) between September 24 and October 1 that will be one of the most challenging stretches in school history. All three of those teams played for their respective conference championships last year. Clemson plays all four schools that played for the ACC and SEC championships last year.

Clemson has a 2011 schedule that is front-loaded with home games. The Tigers first four games will be at home, the first time that has happened since 1979 and just the third time in school history. The 1920 Tigers played their first five games at home.

Clemson plays six of its first eight games at home and, for the first time since 1989, Clemson will play just one home game after October 22.

Clemson will open the season September 3 against Troy, the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools. Troy finished with an 8-5 record last year and ranked 11th in the nation in passing offense, 17th in total offense and fifth in quarterback sacks.

Clemson’s second game will be played on September 10 when Wofford from nearby Spartanburg, SC comes to Clemson. It will be the first meeting between the Tigers and the Terriers since 2001 and just the second meeting since 1981. Wofford had a 10-3 season in 2010 when they led the all FCS schools in rushing yards per game.

Defending National Champion Auburn comes to Clemson on September 17. The Auburn Tigers had a 14-0 record last year when they defeated Oregon for the National title. Clemson and Auburn went to overtime last year before Auburn gained a 27-24 victory. Clemson was the only team to take Auburn to overtime last year. It will be Auburn’s first trip to Clemson since 1970.

Auburn’s appearance will mark the first time the defending national champion has come to Clemson since 1991 when Georgia Tech played at Clemson after having won the title according to the Coach’s poll in 1990. The only year an opponent came to Clemson as the defending national champion was 1981 when Georgia played at Clemson after winning the 1980 title.

Clemson opens its ACC schedule against Florida State on September 24 at Memorial Stadium. The two schools played a thrilling game last year that was decided on a 55-yard field goal on the last play of the game, giving the Seminoles a 16-13 victory. Clemson has not lost to Florida State in Memorial Stadium in 10 years. Florida State won the ACC’s Atlantic Division title last year and finished with a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over South Carolina.

Defending ACC champion Virginia Tech will be Clemson’s first road game on October 1. It will be the first meeting between the Tigers and the Hokies since the two schools played at Clemson in 2007. Virginia Tech finished with an 11-3 mark last year and has won the ACC title three of the last four years.

Boston College comes to Clemson on October 8 for the annual battle for the O’Rourke-McFadden Trophy. Seven of the last eight meetings between these two schools have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Clemson will travel to Maryland on October 15 to face Randy Edsall’s Terps. The two schools have met every year since 1952 and the Tigers have a 30-27-2 lead in the competitive series. Clemson defeated a nine-win Maryland team last year at Clemson, 31-7.

North Carolina will come to Clemson on October 22 for its last appearance in Death Valley until the 2016 season. The Tar Heels are coming off an eight-win season that concluded with a bowl victory over Tennessee.

The Tigers travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech on October 29. Tech led the nation in rushing offense last year, meaning Clemson’s defense will face the top programs in college football at the FBS and FCS level in rushing. Clemson and Georgia Tech played for the 2009 ACC championship.

After an open date, Clemson will play host to Wake Forest on November 12. It will be Senior Day at Clemson.

The last two games are on the road. Clemson travels to NC State for its final league game on November 19. The Tigers have beaten NC State seven straight years, the Tigers longest streak in the history of the series. Clemson finishes its regular season at South Carolina on November 26. Clemson has won nine of the last 11 meetings in the series in Columbia. The state rivals have played every year since 1909.

Special days such as Homecoming and Family Day will be announced at a later date.

Clemson opens Spring Practice for the 2011 season on March 4. The Spring Game will be held April 9 at 4:00 PM at Memorial Stadium. For all events surrounding the Spring Game, visit ClemsonTigers.com.

Clemson Football Schedule 2011Date – OpponentSept. 3 – TROYSept. 10 – WOFFORDSept. 17 – AUBURNSept. 24 – FLORIDA STATE Oct. 1 – at Virginia TechOct. 8 – BOSTON COLLEGE Oct. 15 – at MarylandOct. 22 – NORTH CAROLINA Oct. 29 – at Georgia Tech Nov. 5 – Open DateNov. 12 – WAKE FOREST Nov. 19 – at NC State Nov. 26 – at South Carolina

Dabo Swinney Quote on Clemson 2011 Schedule “This is certainly the most challenging schedule since I have been at Clemson, including my time as an assistant. But, that is what you expect when you come to a program at this level. We accept the challenge.

“We have a string of games against outstanding programs in the first half of the schedule. First, we start the season against an outstanding Troy team that won eight games last year. They were among the top offenses in the nation last year and they ranked in the top 10 in the nation in sacks. Then we play Wofford, who won 10 games last year and they run an offense that is very difficult to defend.

“I don’t know how many teams nationally have three straight games against teams that won at least 10 games the previous year.

“All Clemson fans will be excited to have the defending national champions come to Death Valley. It was a thrilling overtime game at Auburn last year and I know it will be a special environment at our place this year.

“Florida State and Virginia Tech back-to-back is a tall order to open the conference schedule. Clemson and Florida State are the last two Atlantic Division champions and Virginia Tech has won the ACC three of the last four years.

“And that is just the first five games.

“We are going to have improve on the road over last year. The five teams we play away from home won 44 combined games last year. Those will all be difficult places to play with sold out crowds.”

Complete 2011 ACC Football Schedule Links: Composite Schedule | Composite Schedule (Helmet Edition) | Team-by-Team Schedule

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