James Skalski
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 quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Clemson, S.C. (Josh Morgan/Pool Photo via AP)
QB Uiagalelei rallies No. 1 Clemson to 34-28 win over BC

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 31, 2020 04:04 PM EDT

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

Clemson linebacker James Skalski sidelined with groin injury

Oct. 27, 2020 12:05 PM EDT
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Coach Dabo Swinney said one of Clemson's leading defensive players, linebacker James Skalski, will miss several games with a groin injury....

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

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson is tackled by the Clemson defense during the first half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. The crunching hits, game-changing interceptions and dominating defense is the same for No. 1 Clemson. It's just the names that change from year to year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
No. 1 Clemson has new faces on defense and still dominating

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 20, 2020 03:50 PM EDT

Lawrence, No. 1 Clemson overwhelm The Citadel 49-0

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 19, 2020 07:26 PM EDT
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw nine passes Saturday. Three of them went for touchdowns. It was that kind of day for No. 1...

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney talks with players after a defensive stop against Wake Forest during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Walt Unks/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP)
Citadel embraces shot at No. 1 Clemson in revamped schedule

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 17, 2020 10:47 AM EDT

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, meets LSU quarterback Joe Burrow on the field after a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. LSU won 42-25. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Clemson D, Lawrence falter as LSU rolls to championship

By Pete Iacobelli Jan. 14, 2020 02:25 AM EST

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, right, celebrates with wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. after scoring against Clemson during the first half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The Latest: LSU extends lead vs Clemson early in 4th quarter

Jan. 13, 2020 02:05 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2019, file photo, Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock scrambles during the second half of the Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons in Canton, Ohio. The Broncos are bringing rookie quarterback Lock back to practice Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, to see if he is going to be able to play this season. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Clemson's Swinney, Cavs' Mendenhall on similar ACC paths

By Pete Iacobelli Dec. 05, 2019 02:59 PM EST

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney high-fives fans after an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. Clemson won 38-3. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Stout defenses could play role in outcome of ACC title game

By Hank Kurz Jr. Dec. 04, 2019 02:17 PM EST

North Carolina State's Zonovan Knight (24) runs away from Clemson's K'Von Wallace (12) for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
No. 3 Clemson focused heading into final push to playoffs

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 15, 2019 10:00 AM EST

Clemson's Travis Etienne (9) runs away from North Carolina State's Drake Thomas (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
No. 4 Clemson tops NC State 55-10, wins ACC division title

By Aaron Beard Nov. 09, 2019 11:23 PM EST

LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) dives over Alabama's Raekwon Davis (99) and Markail Benton (36) to score a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
No. 1 LSU holds off No. 2 Alabama 46-41

By The Associated Press Nov. 09, 2019 05:23 PM EST

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

North Carolina's Sam Howell (7) passes during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
No. 1 Clemson stops 2-point conversion, beats North Carolina

By Aaron Beard Sep. 28, 2019 06:54 PM EDT