What time is Clemson kickoff?

The Clemson baseball team’s trip to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech highlights a full schedule of action for Tigers’s spring teams this weekend.
Clemson (24-4, 4-2 ACC) has gone 3-2 in its past five games while the Tigers are searching for some answers in their starting rotation and at the bottom of the lineup. They're also looking for some power throughout the lineup. 
At the top of the pitching rotation, Aidan Knaak has been outstanding. The sophomore is 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA and 54 strikeouts in six starts (31-⅔ innings).

Caption: Aiden Knaak has keyed Clemson's pitching this season (credit: YouTube.com/@ClemsonSportsInfo).

Starter Ethan Darden is 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA but has been shaky at best during his last two outings. Closer Lucas Mahlstedt has eight saves in 10 outings. But other than that, there are a lot of questions about the pitching staff.
The Tigers have four regulars batting better than .300 (led by Jarren Purify at .369, Cam Cannarella, Dominic Listi and Luke Gaffney), but the rest of the regular lineup is struggling. And Clemson has only 27 home runs.
Georgia Tech (21-4, 7-2) comes into the ACC showdown with seven regulars batting better than .300, led by Kent Schmidt (.415) and Carson Kerce (.400), and the Yellow Jackets have hit 37 home runs. Tate McKee, the Yellow Jackets’ top starting pitcher, boasts a 4-0 record and a 2.97 ERA in six starts.
The series starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Also this weekend:
Softball (24-10, 6-3): vs. Cal (25-7, 6-3), 6 p.m. on Friday; 6 p.m. on Saturday; 11 a.m. on Sunday
Lacrosse (8-4, 3-2): vs. Cal (5-6, 0-5), Noon on Saturday
Men’s tennis (17-3, 6-2): vs. Wake Forest (26-0, 8-0), 5 p.m. on Friday; vs. N.C. State (16-4, 8-0), Noon on Sunday
Women’s tennis (13-6, 3-4): at N.C. State (9-5, 4-2), 3 p.m. on Friday; at Wake Forest (12-7, 2-4), Noon on Sunday

Amid lawsuits and widespread speculation, TV stands as the stealth factor while ACC leaders and the conference’s school presidents decide how to handle Clemson and Florida State in a way that can placate all parties.

As we’ve discussed on the Reign Supreme Alway podcast, it’s hard to ignore the strong potential that Fox wants into Southern markets in a significant way — and that the network would make that financially worthwhile for the Big Ten.

Why is Fox even relevant, though, when the ACC is under contract with ESPN (where Clemson will kickoff against Florida State on Oct. 5 at either 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. ET)?

Because the two schools with the conference’s biggest viewerships want out badly enough that they are paying lawyers to try to make it happen. The legal back-and-forth makes the conference unstable — and creates a shaky future at a time when ESPN has the ability to simply forgo its broadcast rights and walk away.

The potential early end of ESPN’s contract serves as a driving force while ACC officials offer up uneven revenue distribution as a means to settling lawsuits between the conference and two of its biggest brands. A plan that gives high-viewership teams such as Clemson and FSU much higher annual payouts, and gets them significantly closer to the massive amounts earned by Big Ten and SEC teams, can give ESPN the stability it wants in a broadcast property worth $42 million a year. The network needs to be sure its investment stands protected. Because an ACC that lacks Clemson and FSU should the two schools win in court (not to mention any others who might then follow) lacks a significant percentage of relevant viewership that can be sold to broadcasters’ advertising clients.

Virginia Tech, Pitt and N.C. State just can’t carry that load without teams like Clemson and FSU on their schedules. ESPN knows that. 

It’s easy to wonder what the thinking is like for presidents and chancellors of schools such as that middle-of-the-road trio, as they face the prospect of casting a vote to accept a smaller piece of the ACC pie.

Let’s lay out some of the possible outcomes if the ACC were to crack apart, driven behind the scenes by Fox licking its chops to try to expand the Big Ten into the South as a truly nationwide superconference. 

Fox would want Clemson, FSU and UNC for eyeballs … aka ratings … driven by a mix of generally solid competition (or at least intrigue), loyal fan bases and valuable reach into multiple solid media markets. 

It’d want Georgia Tech and Louisville for new-to-B1G geography and occasional upcycles of strong competition. 

Then … Maybe Va. Tech? Maybe Pitt? Maybe N.C. State is able to stay connected alongside UNC for a move? Or do those schools end up in the American or MAC making, say, about $35 million less in TV money per year? 

So, do schools in that position blink and decide they’re better off accepting a $10 million, $12 million cut (or more) in TV money after all? How confident could Louisville’s thinking be as it sits in the 58th largest media market? Or Va. Tech, more than two hours from 51st-largest Richmond?

If ESPN declines the broadcast option in its ACC contract, all of that moves squarely into consideration. Thus, the conference needs to keep ESPN happy more now than ever before. This significantly motivates the resurfacing talks of uneven revenue distribution. 

It’s important to know the numbers behind the points that have been referenced above.

First, here’s a look at the top 10 ACC football programs ranked by their TV ratings, weighted to lessen being skewed by an unusually strong opponent and more accurately reflect their ability to draw viewers week in and week out:

1. Clemson
2. Florida State
3. Miami
4. Louisville
5. Virginia Tech
6. North Carolina
7. Stanford
8. Pitt
9. N.C. State
10. Georgia Tech

1. Atlanta (7th-largest nationally)
2. Miami (11th)
3. Tampa (16th)
4. Charlotte (20th)
5. Orlando (30th)
6. Raleigh-Durham (35th)
7. Jacksonville (44th)
8. Greensboro (47th)
9. West Palm Beach (48th)
10. Fort Myers-Naples (54th)
11. Greenville-Spartanburg (57th)
12. Louisville (58th) 

• https://x.com/TJAltimore/status/1787855308435382290
• https://www.nielsen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Populations_Rankings.pdf
  

When Clemson vs. N.C.State kicks off at noon ET on Saturday, the Tigers’ defense must be prepared for a relative unknown: Quarterback CJ Bailey will start for the Wolfpack.

A true freshman, Bailey is charged with replacing much-hyped transfer Grayson McCall, who is out with an injury. At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Bailey has the physical gifts needed to compete in the ACC. 

Bailey threw for 156 yards on Saturday against Louisiana Tech in relief of McCall, on 13-of-20 passing with no touchdowns and an interception. Bailey also ran for 27 yards on four carries. 

Clemson will need a disciplined approach to defending N.C. State with Bailey under center. Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren credited his offensive players with sticking to their assignments and trusting Bailey to do his job, rather than overcompensating and ending up doing the wrong things.

At times this season, numerous Tigers defenders have appeared to overpursue the ball while trying to make a big play, only to have the opposing offense exploit that aggression and put together a chunk play. 

Staying on task has been a key to several big Clemson wins over talented opposing QBs in recent years, including an oft-forgotten 47-21 win over Louisville in 2017 – when the Tigers contained Lamar Jackson quite handily. The Heisman Trophy winner was picked off once, held to 64 yards rushing and a 50 percent completion rate despite throwing for three touchdowns and 300-plus yards.

 -- See our offseason preview of N.C. State here (blog continues below)

How CJ Bailey Impacts Clemson vs. N.C. State Matchups

Leading up to Saturday’s game in Clemson, defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin and his position coaches will analyze game tape of Bailey looking for ways to negate his strengths and exploit his weaknesses. Expect a mix of base defense with different blitz looks designed to confuse the opposing freshman QB.

Look for opposing offensive coordinator Robert Anae to prep Bailey to run some plays that weren’t a part of last week’s relief win – which puts a premium on the Clemson defense’s ability to extend its focus beyond what’s already on game tape. 

Bailey enrolled in January after throwing for 9,005 yards and 116 touchdowns during his high school career at Chaminade Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Fla. 

McCall hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard for N.C. State this season. The transfer from Coastal Carolina has 476 yards in three games with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Doeren did not elaborate on McCall’s injury but said he is day to day.

N.C. State wide receiver KC Concepcion also might be coping with an injury. He had just 25 yards receiving on eight catches last week, after averaging 12.4 yards per catch in the team’s first two games. Concepcion was seen limping during last week’s game, suggesting he was playing hurt, although Doeren focused on a need to get him the ball in more creative ways.

Sources: SportsReference.com, Clemson Sports Information, N.C. State Sports Information, ESPN

So, it’s time to find out just how much comeback the 2024 Clemson baseball team has in its heart. 

After Saturday’s 10-7 loss to Florida at home in Game 1 of NCAA Super Regional play, back-to-back wins are needed to advance to the College World Series. 

It’s plenty doable. Sunday starter Aidan Knaak has been the team’s ace all year. The freshman brings a 5-1 record and 2.96 ERA to the mound for the 2:30 p.m. start. With 103 strikeouts in 79 innings, he’s up for the task of making Gators sluggers swing and miss. 

Saturday’s game showed the margin for error against UF is small. Game 1 starter Tristan Smith looked strong for four innings, only to let the Gators open up a whupping as they began a seven-run fifth inning that gave them command of the game. When reliever Lucas Mahlstedt was ineffective, the damage was unrecoverable.

Jacob McGovern, another freshman, provided hope with four solid innings to finish the game. His ability to keep Florida’s powerful offense in check suggests Knaak can do the same. 

But he will need run support. 

The Tigers continued a late-season theme of stranding runners in scoring position. Granted, nobody gets them all across. But Clemson clearly needed to capitalize on its opportunities against a collection of Florida bats that proved more capable than the team’s 33-28 record implies. 

A Gators die-hard fan texted me in the third inning Saturday and said pitching has been their problem all year. 

Jac Caglianone has already made Tigers fans aware of how good of a hitter he is, obliterating his 32nd home run of the year and throwing his bat with a celebratory shout. Sunday he starts on the mound, bringing a 4.57 ERA and 5-2 record with 76 strikeouts in 67 innings.

Caglianone has given up only eight homers in 14 games, but he has handed out 46 walks — so as Daniel and I mentioned in our most recent podcast, Clemson hitters need to work the count and not swing at too many first pitches. Can’t just chase lofted home-run balls. That requires some mental balance to keep their edge going too, admittedly. 

Game 3 starters are TBD, as upbeat Eric Bakich in the home dugout and curmudgeonly Kevin O’Sullivan in the visiting dugout wait to see how their bullpen needs will unfold. 

Time to force the thought.