What time is Clemson kickoff?

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. 

It was easy to tell by the way Erik Bakich and Clemson’s players and fans celebrated their win over Coastal Carolina to capture the Clemson Regional that it had been a long time since the Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament’s Super Regional round. Fourteen years, to be exact.

That was also the last time the program advanced to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series. Is a return trip up next? The Tigers will find that out this weekend when they host the Florida Gators, who are led by a familiar face. Here are the key factors to watch this weekend:

Records: Clemson 44-14, Florida 32-28

Clemson at the plate: The Tigers continue to be led by Cam Cannarella and Blake Wright, while Jacob Hinderleider is coming off a performance that earned Regional MVP honors.

Clemson on the mound: The Tigers' pitching staff had a solid weekend, allowing 11 runs in three games behind two good starts from Aidan Knaak and Tristan Smith and a strong series from closer Austin Gordon, who pitched in all three games and retired all 10 batters he faced with four strikeouts.

Florida at the plate: Jac Caglianone is the face of Florida’s program and one of the faces of the sport with a .410 average, 31 home runs and 63 RBIs and a 5-2 record on the mound. Ty Evans has a .316 average, 13 home runs and 43 RBIs, and Colby Shelton has 20 home runs and 52 RBIs.

Florida on the mound: Spot starter Jake Clemente, reliever Frank Menendez and closer Fisher Jameson were key to the series-clinching 4-2 win over No. 11 seed Oklahoma State as Florida came back to claim the regional from the loser's bracket.

Florida in the dugout: The Gators have reached the Super Regionals for the 10th time in Kevin O’Sullivan’s 16 seasons as their coach. O’Sullivan served as a Clemson assistant from 1999 to 2007. The series marks the second straight weekend a former Clemson assistant coach returns to campus. Last week, it was Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin, who did not face the Tigers.

Here’s the complete schedule:

• Game 1: (6) Clemson vs. Florida, 2 p.m., Saturday (ESPN)
• Game 2: Clemson vs. Florida, 2:30 p.m., Sunday (ESPN)
• Game 3 (if necessary): Clemson vs. Florida, TBA, Monday (TBA)

Extra seating: Clemson's softball field, McWhorter Stadium, will host a free viewing party  the athletics department announced Thursday.  Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch. There is no assigned seating. Concessions and Clemson novelties will be available.

If you missed it, check out this explanation of last weekend's hidden-ball trick from Wright: