Tyler Davis
Clemson sideline personnel hold play signal cards during the third quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
Clemson's Brent Venables says defense is good, not great

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 19, 2020 10:54 AM EST

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney signals to his players during the second quarter against Notre Dame in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 4 Clemson still has path to national title, ACC crown

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 09, 2020 03:52 PM EST

Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) celebrates after a touchdown against Clemson during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 4 Notre Dame sacks No. 1 Clemson 47-40 in double OT

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 08, 2020 12:00 AM EST

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, center right, talks to his players during an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
Problem for No. 1 Clemson is defensive breakdowns, not QB

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 03, 2020 02:13 PM EST

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney fist bumps defensive tackle Jordan Williams (59) after an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 1 Clemson dealing with rash of injuries on defense vs BC

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 29, 2020 11:35 AM EDT

Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper (17) hands off to Syracuse running back Sean Tucker (34) during an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Ken Ruinard/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 1 Clemson wakes up late to beat Syracuse 47-21

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 24, 2020 03:43 PM EDT

Swinney says No. 1 Tigers healthy, virus free after off week

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 29, 2020 03:29 PM EDT
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney acknowledges how edgy he gets waiting for COVID-19 test results to come back for the top-ranked Tigers. And...

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates after his team scored during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game against LSU in New Orleans. Clemson is preseason No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, a poll featuring nine Big Ten and Pac-12 teams that gives a glimpse at what’s already been taken from an uncertain college football fall by the pandemic. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
AP Top 25: Clemson No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Alabama

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 24, 2020 12:05 PM EDT

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass against Clemson during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: A familiar top 10 looking to 2020

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 02:22 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2019, file photo, Miami tight end Brevin Jordan (9) celebrates a Miami take away in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, in Tallahassee, Fla. Jordan was selected to The Associated Press All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File)
Clemson RB Etienne, LB Simmons lead AP All-ACC teams

By Joedy Mccreary Dec. 10, 2019 12:50 PM EST

Georgia coach Kirby Smart shouts to players during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Atlanta. Georgia won 52-7. (AP Photo/John Amis)
No. 4 Georgia closes regular season with 52-7 rout of Tech

By Paul Newberry Nov. 30, 2019 03:50 PM EST

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney calls out commands during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's re-tooled defense playing like 'one of the best'

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 29, 2019 12:23 PM EDT

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence drops back to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
No. 2 Clemson pounds Florida St 45-14 for 21st straight win

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 12, 2019 07:23 PM EDT

North Carolina's Sam Howell (7) gets stopped on a two-point conversion by Clemson's James Skalski (47) and Xavier Thomas (3) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
All-America Watch: No. 2 Clemson reloads on D-line

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 08, 2019 02:45 PM EDT

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers speaks with quarterback Tommy DeVito (13) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Will Newton)
Bring on the noise: Syracuse awaits No. 1 Clemson at Dome

By John Kekis Sep. 13, 2019 10:52 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, center, and defensive coach Brent Venables, left, watch the action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Clemson, S.C. Tyler Davis didn’t plan on starting this soon for Clemson, given the depth the Tigers had stockpiled at defensive tackle the past few seasons. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables had planned for the talent drain and had brought along several linemen like Williams and junior Xavier Kelly to take over. They didn’t count on Davis forcing his way into the starting lineup. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Freshman DT Davis filling void left by Clemson All-American

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 10, 2019 04:52 PM EDT

Army defenders stop Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet (24) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Michigan won 24-21 in overtime. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: LSU's masterpiece, Michigan's mess

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 08, 2019 01:01 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019, file photo, Clemson players huddle before the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama, in Santa Clara, Calif. For the first time, the defending national champion Tigers are No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Swinney: No. 1 Clemson to play several new faces on D-line

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 27, 2019 02:43 AM EDT

Clemson's Trevor Lawrence drops back to pass during Clemson's annual Orange and White NCAA college football spring scrimmage Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Retooled Clemson D has strong spring as it moves forward

By Pete Iacobelli Apr. 06, 2019 06:54 PM EDT