The Clemson Tigers (2-0) made a statement right out of the gate in 2013, knocking off SEC powerhouse Georgia in Week 1 and announcing off the bat that they are real contenders for a national title. They will go for their third straight win tonight against the North Carolina State Wolfpack (2-0), at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, in a road contest that can be live streamed here free. The game can be listened to on WCCP 104.9 FM.
The last time Clemson hooked up with North Carolina State, Tajh Boyd ran wild all over the Wolfpack, accounting for an ACC record eight total touchdowns. While Boyd didn't tear up the record books against Georgia, he did light them up to the tune of five touchdowns and 312 total yards.
Through two games Boyd is completing 60 percent of his passes, and has thrown for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren knows that his players will be taking on a Heisman Trophy candidate tonight, and said the game plan will be to try and contain Boyd as opposed to stopping him.
"First thing you've got to do is not give up big plays," Doeren said. "You have to contend routes and tackle well in space. We've got to shed blocks and get more people to the ball. But they are going to make plays. ... To win the football game, they can't be explosive plays that lead to points."
Injuries may be helping the Wolfpack cause. Junior pass-catcher Charone Peake has been lost for the season thanks to a torn ACL. "This is a big loss. Charone was having a great year and was going to have a great year," Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney said.
N.C. State faces a tall task against Clemson, with a very young corps that struggled to score points against Richmond, an FCS program. They barely eked out a 23-21 win and trailed by double digits at one point.
"Coach always preaches you have to be able to handle adversity," quarterback Pete Thomas said. "It's not what happens to you, it is how you come back. I feel like our team handled adversity very well."
There could be a whole lot of adversity tonight.
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