Schools

Clemson Football Releases 2013 Schedule

After an impressive 11-2 campaign in 2012, and a stellar recruiting class, the Tigers look forward to an even better 2013.

In addition to slugfests with perennial foes South Carolina and Florida State, the Clemson Tigers will rekindle a fierce gridiron rivalry with Georgia and take on new ACC entrant Syracuse in 2013.

Those are the highlights of the Tigers' 2013 football schedule released Monday (see full schedule below).

Clemson opens the season at home against Georgia, the first meeting between the two long time rivals since 2003. Georgia finished the 2012 season ranked fourth by USA Today while Clemson was ranked ninth.

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The programs had legendary games during the 1977-87 era when both teams were consistent top 15 teams. The two teams were 5-5-1 against each other during that era and the average victory margin was just 4.7 points per game. Nine of the 11 games were decided by a touchdown or less.

Georgia won the National Championship in 1980 and a 20-16 win over Clemson was a big victory for the Bulldogs. Clemson then won the National Championship in 1981 and a 13-3 win over the fourth ranked Bulldogs was one of the most important wins in the Tigers' drive to the title.

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A tough loss at Florida State last season paved the way for the Seminoles to claim the ACC championship. This season, however, the Tigers will get FSU on its home turf in a revenge match that many experts predict will decide who represents the Atlantic Division in the 2013 conference title game.

The first game in October will be at Syracuse in what will be the first ACC game for the Orangemen. Syracuse will play in the ACC this year for the first time after competing in football in the Big East every year since 1991. It will be only the second meeting on the gridiron between Clemson and Syracuse. The teams first met in the January 1, 1996 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

And, of course, the Tigers will attempt to end a four-year slide against the arch-rival Gamecocks in the final game of the year, to be played at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Also of note, Clemson will have a pair of Thursday night games that will be televised nationally by ESPN — Sept. 19 at NC State and Nov. 14 vs. Georgia Tech at Clemson. It will be Clemson's first home Thursday night game since October 25, 2002 when Clemson played NC State.

"A Thursday night nationally televised home game will provide an opportunity to showcase the university as well as the football program," said Clemson Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich.

For all you Tiger fans (or haters) here in Mount Pleasant, tell us in the comment section below what you think about the upcoming season and Clemson's chances.

2013 Clemson Football Schedule
Aug. 31 - GEORGIA
Sept. 7 - SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
Sept. 14 - OPEN
Sept.  19 - #at NC State
Sept. 28 - WAKE FOREST
Oct. 5 - at Syracuse
Oct. 12 - BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 19 - FLORIDA STATE
Oct. 26 - at Maryland
Nov. 2 - at Virginia 
Nov. 9 - OPEN
Nov. 14 - #GEORGIA TECH
Nov. 23 - CITADEL
Nov. 30 - at South Carolina
# - games played on Thursday evening televised on ESPN. Games in all-caps are home games.


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