USA TODAY projects Clemson football bowl game, opponent

The Clemson Tigers received a much-needed shot in the arm with a 28-20 victory over North Carolina in the ACC opener for both teams in Week 3 of the 2026 college football season. Whether the Tigers can build on that remains to be seen, but Clemson avoided what would have been another deflating loss.

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The Clemson Tigers received a much-needed shot in the arm with a 28-20 victory over North Carolina in the ACC opener for both teams in Week 3 of the 2026 college football season. Whether the Tigers can build on that remains to be seen, but Clemson avoided what would have been another deflating loss.

Clemson (2-1) overcame a 17-3 deficit in the first half to beat the Tar Heels on Saturday at Memorial Stadium behind a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns runs from Gideon Davidson and Tyler Brown.

The defense buckled down and held North Carolina to a field goal after a 2 1/2 hour weather delay before forcing a turnover on downs after Clemson took its first lead of the game on Davidson's 8-yard touchdown run.

On the Tar Heels' final possession with less

than a minute to go, Penn State transfer Elliot Washington II intercepted a Billy Edwards pass to preserve the victory.

With Week 3 action behind us, USA TODAY Sports unveiled its latest projections for the 35 non-College Football Playoff bowl games on the 2026-27 schedule.

College football analyst Erick Smith has Clemson playing in a bowl game the Tigers have never made an appearance in: the Military Bowl at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Clemson's opponent, Smith projects, will be Army.

Clemson and Army have met only once on the gridiron in college football season. On Oct. 2, 1937, the Tigers fell to Army, 21-6, at West Point during the height of Army's success as a college football power in the early 20th century.

The Black Knights, a member of the American Athletic Conference, are off to a 1-1 start. Army defeated FCS foe Bryant in its season opener before falling to South Florida, 28-24, on Sept. 12. Army is led by longtime head coach Jeff Monken, who is in his 13th overall season at West Point.

Clemson football schedule 2026

TV channel, commentators for Clemson football vs. California

📸 Ashley Tumlin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/glQkX62jw3 pic.twitter.com/Lddxvxm1ji
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) September 22, 2026

Clemson faces Cal at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley in Week 4 of the 2026 college football season on Friday. Kickoff is 10:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Here's a game by game look at the Tigers' 2026 schedule.

All times Eastern.