playDabo loves Ian Schieffelin's basket for Clemson (0:23)Ian Schieffelin takes it himself for a one-handed layup to the delight of Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney For months, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney had joked with Ian Schieffelin that the 6-foot-8 power forward for the Tigers' men's basketball team would make an excellent tight end but Schieffelin assumed it was all in good fun he got a call from Swinney with a serious offer: spend the next six months with the Tigers football team and see what happens Schieffelin announced on Instagram on Friday that he is taking Swinney up on the offer, forgoing any pro basketball prospects for now in favor of one last season in a Clemson jersey -- this time on the gridiron instead of the hardwood. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ian schieffelin (@ian4schieff) getting ready for the next level," Schieffelin told ESPN "Dabo just walked me through the opportunity he was willing to give me It really just sparked my interest in wanting to try and being able to put on a Clemson jersey again was very enticing to me To be able to be coached by Dabo and [tight ends coach Kyle] Richardson is just a huge opportunity I couldn't pass up." Schieffelin blossomed into one of the key cogs for the Tigers' hoops team the past two years. He averaged 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season as Clemson earned a 5-seed in the NCAA tournament, losing to McNeese in the first round He had entered the transfer portal last month hoping for a fifth year of eligibility amid several ongoing lawsuits against the NCAA though Schieffelin said the likelihood of an outcome in time for him to play basketball in 2025-26 was slim He had been preparing for a crack at the pros -- likely overseas or in the G League -- when Swinney called with the offer "I'd never rule out me going back to basketball," Schieffelin said But I think this is a good opportunity for the next six months." In October, Swinney teased his interest in adding Schieffelin to his roster suggesting he would fit in nearly anywhere on the field for the Tigers He'd be an unbelievable left tackle," Swinney said We have a lot of rev share ready too if he wants to pass up wherever he's going [after basketball]." Schieffelin said he hadn't taken Swinney's suggestions seriously during basketball season he quickly understood the vision Swinney had for him "The call two weeks ago was very serious," Schieffelin said maybe it's an opportunity to stay around a little longer and join a national championship contender." Swinney said he believes Schieffelin can make the move and succeed at college football "He has elite football measurables that I believe will translate well," Swinney said "I'm looking forward to helping him transition and build a football foundation that will give him a chance to not only help us at Clemson but also give him a chance to play pro football Schieffelin said he is not expecting to earn serious NIL money but does think his body type could allow him to blossom into a potential NFL prospect He played quarterback as a ninth grader before opting to focus on basketball the following year Schieffelin said he will spend the next few months working on conditioning and strength gains to prepare for the rigors of football as well as working to build relationships with his new teammates but he said he doesn't have any set expectations for the season "Playing college basketball for four years I'm used to the grind and used to work," Schieffelin said "But it looks different on the football side so just getting in the weight room and learning everything." Before making his decision, Schieffelin said he spoke with Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who was a four-year starter in basketball for VCU before signing with Indianapolis Alie-Cox hadn't played football since his freshman year of high school but is now entering his eighth NFL season "We talked about what went into his decision to go the football route," Schieffelin said and it made me decide to just give it a chance and see where I could take it." He was announced as a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in February "Just being able to compete with these guys and impact the team any way I can," Schieffelin said of his goals "I'm going into this very optimistic and ready to learn Being able to compete every day is something I enjoy And being able to put a Clemson jersey on again is really special to me and to do it this time in Death Valley is going to be amazing." CLEMSON — One guy who is not surprised to see Ian Schieffelin turn his attention to Clemson football is his former head coach Clemson Men’s Basketball coach Brad Brownell told a crowd at IPTAY’s Road Show in Greenville Thursday night that Schieffelin has a love for football that goes back to his younger days when he played football at Grayson High School in Loganville made it official Friday that the former basketball star is now a member of the football team and will play for the Tigers this coming season once a student-athlete has used up their eligibility in one sport they are free to pursue other sports as long as they still have remaining eligibility within their five-year window. Schieffelin who lettered four years for Brownell’s basketball team still has one year remaining to pursue football in his five-year window and he has always had that from when he played as a kid  And he loves Clemson,” Brownell said “The one thing about Ian Schieffelin is he loves Clemson who earned All-ACC second team honors this past basketball season will play tight end for Dabo Swinney’s Tigers and he is a much better athlete than everybody thinks,” Brownell said Even coaches that coach against him do not realize he is so strong He is a little faster than most people think I hope he can get in that 4.8 range for you.” Brownell did have one message for Clemson football fans in regard to his former player “Everybody needs to realize that he is making a major sacrifice because and I don’t know if he is an NBA basketball player but he can make a lot of money overseas playing basketball,” he said Schieffelin has not played football since his days at Grayson High School He played eighth-grade football at Grayson with former Clemson running back Phil Mafah who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys last week in the NFL Draft “I’m excited about Ian’s addition,” Swinney said in a prepared statement from the athletic department “He is a great competitor with high level success at the college level He has elite football measurables that I believe will translate well I’m looking forward to helping him transition and build a football foundation that will give him a chance to not only help us at Clemson but also give him a chance to play pro football.” Schieffelin spent the first four years of his five-year collegiate clock as a central figure for some of the most successful basketball teams in Clemson history The forward helped the Tigers to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his final two seasons starting all 70 of Clemson’s games in that span He concluded his career as one of 47 1,000-point scorers in program history and finished ranked seventh in program history in career rebounds Schieffelin earned second-team All-ACC honors in contributing to the Tigers’ program-record 27 wins he was named as the ACC’s Most Improved Player posting a double-double in his first career NCAA Tournament appearance as Clemson went on to earn its first Elite Eight appearance since 1980 she managed to push through those fears and now ironically graduated this spring from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in animal and veterinary sciences with a preveterinary and science concentration “I didn’t think I wanted to be a vet until my junior or senior year in high school,” Jubilee said The fact that I’m pursuing veterinary medicine now is extraordinary.” they would have to put their dogs in the garage so she could enter the house so she forced herself to start being around the canines “I was trying to become more comfortable being around animals so that it wasn’t such a hassle for myself and for others,” she said with the one requirement being that it was her job to take care of it I had an allowance and whatever money I had I would use it for buying dog food.” She eventually became fascinated by watching the doctors care for her dog during visits “It came to me that I actually might want to pursue a career in this,” she said “Working with animals my first semester at Clemson kind of solidified that I was enjoying what I was doing.” Jubilee was looking for somewhere with a good agricultural base where she could work with large and small animals A friend of one of her mom’s coworkers was an alumna of Clemson and brought her down for a tour Two things stood out to Jubilee: how connected the alumni program was and learning that in the vet program she could work with animals during her first semester “Working with large animals can be intimidating at first I think the horses are what intimidated me the most because that’s a very large animal and I had never worked with horses before I had a little fear but I think I was more excited at that moment.” Jubilee also took the opportunity to get involved in several clubs and organizations the Clemson Running Club and she was president of the Poultry Science Club and the Pre-Veterinary Club “I think the club cheerleading was my favorite,” she said “It was a way to get a break from all the academic stuff I was a cheerleader all through elementary Being able to keep doing the sport that I love and meeting great people were my favorite things We traveled to Daytona Beach (Florida) and competed for nationals Jubilee plans to return to New Jersey and work for a year as a veterinary technician She has offers from two veterinary hospitals Schools of interest include Clemson and Rowan University both of which are starting new veterinary schools the University of Florida and Ross University “Jhanae Jubilee is a highly motivated student who demonstrates exceptional dedication both in the classroom and the laboratory,” said Qing Liu Clemson assistant professor of biological sciences intellectual curiosity and commitment to learning are evident through her active participation in class discussions and her consistent academic performance Jhanae approaches experiments with precision and enthusiasm quickly mastering techniques and contributing meaningfully to group projects.” Jubilee would like to specialize in either emergency and critical care or radiology during an internship and residency Her long-term goal is to open her own practice I think I just got better and better at becoming a well-rounded student,” Jubilee said “I honestly wouldn’t trade my experience at Clemson for the world I learned a lot about myself and became a better student.” Or email us at news@clemson.edu Clemson News is the go-to source for stories and news about the innovations research and accomplishments of the Clemson Family CLEMSON – It was no secret what Clemson’s issues last season were on defense allowing 160.6 yards per game on the ground the worst figure by a Clemson defense since 2011 – the year before Brent Venables became defensive coordinator the worst per carry average since the 1975 team allowed 5.3 yards do not look for those numbers to be the same this coming season Dabo Swinney went out and brought in former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to turn things around  “His tone and everything is about tackling Every sentence he talks about on defense,” safety Khalil Barnes said  “We are honing in and just getting back to the fundamentals Barnes says Allen has brought in a new level of focus on defense He has stressed eliminating the mistakes by making things simple “The mistakes will eliminate themselves if we play fast and play hard,” Barnes said it was obvious how improved Clemson was when it came tackling The source to a lot of the Tigers’ problems last season can be traced back to tackling It was a major issue in their losses to Louisville players and coaches were seeing a noticeable difference in their tackling which can be traced back to the fundamentals Allen installed at the beginning of practice “You are seeing a lot of guys starting to flash,” defensive end T.J They are starting to learn a lot more lingo so I think this (defense) is starting to come together “We were young this past year and we got so many guys coming back Only time will tell just how much Allen has fixed the defense but they will not have to wait too long to see how much The Tigers open the season against LSU and Heisman Trophy candidate Garrett Nussmeier on Aug This ESPN analyst is a fan of one particular Clemson draft pick ESPN’s Matt Miller highlighted his 100 favorite selections of the 2025 NFL Draft (subscription required) and named former Clemson safety R.J Mickens was a Day 3 pick of the Los Angeles Chargers The Chargers’ selection of Mickens was ranked by Miller at No 95 among the best 100 picks of this year’s draft “Mickens was one of the biggest value plays of the draft,” Miller wrote “He was picked on at times when asked to play deep safety last season but his impact in the box should get him on the roster as Derwin James Jr.’s backup and a special teams ace.” 125 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class Miller discussed why he is high on the 6-foot who started 30 games in his Clemson career and ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.  He has the height/weight speed that we’re looking for,” Miller said of Mickens “What I love about him – put up coverage every year at Clemson He reads the quarterback’s eyes exceptionally well I think there were times where he sees it on time but he’s held up a little bit in his transition due to some hip stiffness he has been battle-tested over the past three years as a starter.” Mickens recorded 229 tackles (13.5 for loss) 15 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in his Clemson career from 2020-24 he finished third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles (including a career-high 6.0 for loss) while adding seven pass breakups and two interceptions over 13 games (all starts) –Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee-Imagn Images They are overflowing with talent up and down the roster looking to build off of what was a bit of a shaky 2024 campaign Clemson did win the ACC championship again and participated in the inaugural 12-team college football playoff but it was far from their best performance One of the areas in which the team struggled at times was defensively Under head coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers routinely have one of the most dominant defenses in the nation. That wasn’t the case in 2024, and major changes were made to the staff with Tom Allen being hired away from the Penn State Nittany Lions to take over as defensive coordinator for Wes Goodwin Allen is inheriting a unit that may have underwhelmed in 2024 but is poised for a massive bounce back in 2025 This is a group loaded with talent at every level of the defense Where they are going to shine brightest is in the trenches Clemson is going to be able to get after the quarterback relentlessly with NFL-caliber talent anchoring their defensive front One of the players who is worth keeping an eye on is star defensive tackle Peter Woods who is poised to break out in Year 3 with the program As a freshman he played sparingly with 26 total tackles and three tackles for loss and one forced fumble he was forced to play out of position at times his elite traits began to shine with more regularity There are a lot of people who believe those numbers will be on the rise this fall with Woods announcing his presence as one of the most disruptive defenders in the game “If I were making a way-too-early rankings board, Woods would have an argument to be at the top. At 6-3 and 315 pounds, he has a nonstop motor and wreaks havoc. He has excellent hand power to stack, shed and disrupt plays. Woods had three sacks last season on the interior, and his pass-rush upside would be welcomed in Tennessee,” Reid wrote. A defensive tackle that can get after the quarterback in addition to stuffing the run game is a game-changer for a defense. Woods has that kind of ability and will be able to showcase it this fall given how much talent surrounds him on the defensive line. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Last season, Clemson finished the year with a 10-4 overall record, including a 7-1 record in ACC play completing 63.4% of his pass attempts for 3,639 yards He also ran for 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground Following the 2025 season, Klubnik will have the option of entering the 2026 NFL draft Should he have the kind of season many are expecting from him that seems to be a very likely route of action Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today has revealed a new 2026 mock draft that has a head-turning prediction for Klubnik. In his scenario, Klubnik would head to the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No "We can only hope that Aaron Rodgers makes his decision by this time next year but Klubnik becomes the Steelers' quarterback of the future," he wrote "He made strides last season at Clemson something that fans will hope continues this year The Steelers get a dual-threat signal caller who can potentially add some stability to Pittsburgh's room." Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) Klubnik would take over for a team that badly needs a long-term quarterback answer Aaron Rodgers could still sign for the 2025 season but he won't be an answer for longer than a year or two Will Howard was drafted in the sixth round of this year's draft Expect to see the Steelers take a long look at the 2026 quarterback class If Klubnik lives up to the hype this season it wouldn't be shocking to see Mike Tomlin and company take a gamble on him but if early projections are any indication In the immediate aftermath of the draft, Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman released an early 2026 NFL Mock Draft—and four Tigers are projected to go in the first round It’s a reflection of both the high-end talent returning to Dabo Swinney’s squad and the upward momentum surrounding Clemson football heading into the 2025 season No Tiger has flipped the narrative more dramatically than quarterback Cade Klubnik doubts loomed large about his long-term potential after a breakout 2024 campaign in which he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores Klubnik is firmly in the conversation as a top-10 NFL prospect If the senior signal-caller replicates last season’s production and continues his upward trajectory in Garrett Riley’s offense he’ll likely cement himself as one of the first quarterbacks off the board in 2026 No.7 T.J. Parker: A Premium Edge Prospect for the RaidersSophomore edge rusher T.J. Parker may be the most NFL-ready defender on Clemson’s roster. Through two seasons, he’s already posted 89 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks. His six forced fumbles last year led the ACC and highlighted his ability to disrupt offenses in multiple ways Parker fits the modern mold of a game-wrecking pass rusher—and NFL scouts are taking notice While Parker garners headlines for his splash plays Peter Woods quietly continues to anchor Clemson’s defensive front with dominance Woods projects as a powerful interior lineman at the next level He’s shown glimpses of pass-rush upside but already excels as a run defender who can command double teams and control gaps His versatility—capable of lining up across multiple positions on the line—only adds to his value heading into the 2025 season The younger brother of former Clemson standout and current Falcons cornerback A.J sophomore Avieon Terrell is making a name for himself and two interceptions in a breakout sophomore season If he builds on last year’s performance he could climb even higher in the draft conversation—potentially surpassing his brother’s No With four players projected to come off the board early Clemson is poised to reassert itself as a pipeline to the NFL this group could be the foundation of a national title run—and the Tigers’ next wave of first-round legacy 📊 Florida State rises in new baseball Power 10 Enter your information to receive emails about offers Lodise and Williams each hit their second home run of the game giving the Seminoles some more insurance late in this game Faurot followed up with his second homer of the game a two-run shot to walk it off on a run rule Florida States finishes the day with 20 runs on 21 hits The Seminoles take the top-five series in a pivotal ACC matchup as the postseason draws closer.  A pair of strikeouts for Joe Charles keeps the Florida State lead at six Clemson is running out of time to come back with just six outs to go CLEM 9 Myles Bailey continues his excellent outing with a three-run homer in the seventh inning Bailey is now 4-for-4 on the day with 5 RBIs giving them some insurance heading into the eighth inning Bailey Blast!! 💪 pic.twitter.com/BVO2B5wuRK but Joe Charles struck out Ciufo in the next AB Charles then froze Cannarella to cap off the inning with another strikeout CLEM 9TP Wentworth came in to pitch for Clemson and Faurot welcomed him to the game with a big fly down the left field line that just stayed fair for his 10th homer of the season but the Noles extend their lead to three runs heading into the seventh It's FaurOUT of here! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/OjoGbqUKgs CLEM 9Cannarella hit one up the middle for a first-pitch single then Paino mashed a homer over the left field for his ninth of the season and Gaffney crushed another two-run shot to right center field Clemson cuts the lead to two runs as the Tigers claw back into this game CLEM 5Lodise opened the half-inning with a single but the Tigers turned a double play on the next AB his third hit of the day to make him 3-for-3 but Fisher struck out swinging to end the inning Now the Tigers will try to cut into the FSU lead some more in the sixth inning Three quick outs for the Seminoles keeps the lead at six runs Manca got Crighton to ground out and Jarrell to fly out to right field before striking out McCladdie to end the inning A two-out walk moved a runner into scoring position for the Seminoles dropping a single into center field to score FSU's 11th run of the game The Seminoles stranded two runners in scoring position but they got a run back to bump the lead up to six heading into the fifth inning 2025🐯 Tigers get on the board | Top 4: FSU 10 CLEM 5A few singles and a bunch of walks for Clemson made this a brand new ballgame in the fourth then Crighton and Jarrell added a couple hits to right field to score Gaffney McCladdie hit another single to load the bases then Ciufo was hit by a pitch to score the Tigers' second run and Cannarella worked a walk to load the bases back up Chris Knier came in to replace Mendes on the mound but he walked Paino to bring in another run Payton Manca then replaced Knier to face Collin Priest Priest took a fourth-straight free pass to cut the deficit to five runs Manca struck out Gaffney for the second out but the Tigers made a good dent in the Noles' lead Carns singled and Harrelson doubled to start the inning and Lodise hit a sac fly to bring Carns home from third for Florida State's ninth run Myles Bailey poked a single down the left field line bringing home Harrelson to make it a double-digit lead for the Noles but Mendes sat him down looking with a 92 mph fastball on the inside Priest flied out to end the inning and keep the Seminoles' eight-run lead intact Drew Faurot and Chase Williams started the bottom of the inning with a pair of singles letting Faurot score from third and Williams advance to second and Carns took a walk to get runners at the corners again with only one out Bailey came to the mound to replace Bell with the Noles threatening Harrelson laid down a bunt to bring Williams home but it resulted in a scary infield collision between Bailey and the second baseman but McCladdie came in to 2B to replace Dillard Lodise took a walk to load the bases then Myles Bailey was hit by a pitch to score the Noles' fourth run Nathan Dvorsky replaced Bailey on the mound for Clemson and Chase Williams singled to right center to bring home two more but the damage had been done: SEVEN more runs for Florida State 2025⛽️ Mendes gets three Ks | Top 2: FSU 1 CLEM 0Mendes threw a nasty curveball to sit Listi down but a single and HBP got two Tigers on base striking out the next two batters to end the inning taking the first pitch deep over the left field wall to open the scoring Myles Bailey singled up the middle but was left stranded on first Florida State takes an early lead in Game 3 Lodi off the top of the scoreboard!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Uey5yrtvfq The No. 8 Seminoles (33-10 [14-7]) hit six home runs in the series finale the third time this season FSU has hit six homers in a game The win keeps FSU on top of the ACC standings with two weekends of conference play left Before the rubber match of the series, FSU and Clemson finished game two after a nearly 17-hour delay forced by severe weather Saturday night With rain falling on Saturday in the eighth inning Cam Cannarella hit a deep ball to center field that Max Williams slipped when he fielded and Cannarella safely reached third on a two-RBI triple and then scored after a wild throw to third base to give Clemson a 4-3 lead The Seminoles resumed the game with a runner on first base and one out BJ Gibson was a pinch runner and stole second before Nathan Cmeyla struck out and Alex Lodise popped out after a Gage Harrelson walk to end the inning Clemson scored three in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach and tie the series at one each and set up the rubber match The series finale provided a dramatic conclusion with FSU recording 21 hits and 20 runs to run-rule Clemson in a nearly four-hour-long thriller The Seminoles stormed out to a 10-0 lead in the first three innings Lodise hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning on the first pitch he faced to give FSU a quick 1-0 lead and after three strikeouts in the top of the second inning by Wes Mendes the Seminoles exploded for seven runs in the home half of the inning Drew Faurot scored the inning's first run on a wild pitch before a Gage Harrelson single scored another run Myles Bailey was hit by a pitch to score a run before a Cal Fisher single scored another run walked in a run to set up a two-RBI single by Chase Williams the final two of the seven runs scored in the inning FSU tacked on a pair of runs in the third inning on a sac fly from Lodise and a RBI single from Bailey Clemson clawed back into the game with a five-run fourth inning that featured two runs scored on walked in batters and a run scored on a hit by a pitch with four of the first five batters hitting them leading to the walked-in runs and hit by pitch where he struck out five and allowed five runs on six hits Chris Knier replaced him and faced one batter walking him in four pitches before Payton Manca finished the inning Manca walked in run before striking out one and forcing a pop out to end the inning with FSU ahead 10-5 A Hunter Carns RBI single in the bottom of the inning gave FSU a run back to make it 11-5 After a scoreless fifth inning from both teams Clemson scored four runs in the top of the sixth on a pair of two-run home runs Joe Charles relieved Manca in the sixth inning and he pitched the final 2.2 innings in relief He struck out five of the 10 batters he faced and allowed just two base runners to shut the Clemson offense out A Faurot home run in the bottom of the sixth made it 12-9 and kick-started the Seminoles' offense who scored eight unanswered runs to win the game Bailey collected his fourth hit of the night in the bottom of the seventh inning a three-run home run to give FSU a 15-9 lead FSU emphatically shut the door on the Tigers with three home runs in the bottom of the eighth Lodise hit his second of the day with a two-run blast before Max Williams hit a solo shot Faurot ended the game with a two-run blast to right field The Seminoles host Jacksonville on Tuesday before a weekend road trip to Cal Where: Evans Diamond at Stu Gordon Stadium | Berkeley Watch: ACC Network Extra / WFLA 100.7 FMWatch: ACC Network Extra / Tri-County Technical College and Clemson University have partnered to create a dual enrollment academy to provide sophomore high school students a path toward obtaining a degree from Clemson This agreement offers first-generation college students an early start in college Those in the academy earn college credits toward a two-year program at Tri-County and then can move on to a four-year degree at Clemson The Tri-County Technical College Dual Enrollment Academy aligns with the Clemson Elevate strategic plan to enhance the student experience and transform lives in South Carolina, according to Robert H. Jones, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost of Clemson University It also builds a skilled local workforce that attracts innovative job creators Tri-County Technical College and Clemson Dual Enrollment Academy are expected to launch in spring 2026 with 25 students in the first class It will increase incrementally each academic year to 150 students per year Students in the first cohort are anticipated to transition to Clemson in fall 2028 "This partnership between Tri-County Technical College and Clemson University is an exciting opportunity to expand access to higher education for students across Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties," said Dr. Danny Merck, superintendent of the School District of Pickens County. "Through aligning resources and creating a clearly defined this initiative helps more students take the next step toward their college and career goals," he said Tri-County Technical College is a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson Tri-County Technical College offers more than 70 major fields of study Clemson University is committed to providing access to education and ensuring that high-achieving students in our state have a clear supported pathway to earning their degrees," Jones said Clemson University offers extensive academic programs spanning various fields including 74 undergraduate and 71 graduate degree programs These programs are housed in the following categories and support to help students achieve their educational and career goals "By working together, we can make an impact in this region and really for South Carolina as a whole," said Galen DeHay, president of Tri-County Technical College The Dual Enrollment Academy will be a collaborative effort involving all seven school districts in Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties Participating high schools will be crucial in identifying and selecting qualified students for the program Tri-County Technical College Dual Enrollment Academy will recruit students in their sophomore year area high schools will ensure enrolled students have transportation to the nearest TCTC campus for in-person coursework Student qualifications: what to knowStudents must meet specific academic requirements to be eligible for the program They must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all college coursework and achieve a GPA of 4.0 or higher in their high school coursework The academy will provide a college admissions and orientation session that prepares the student for dual enrollment and the college experience Tri-County Technical College and Clemson will also provide future-focused advising and career counseling Parents and guardians can participate in community-building activities and attend workshops on financial literacy and the FAFSA and understanding the unique needs of first-generation college students How to sign up?Students interested in the Tri-County Technical College Dual Enrollment Academy should contact their guidance counselor to learn more. Information can also be found online at tctc.edu/academy "Our goal is to ensure that students achieve the best outcomes," said Dr vice president of academic affairs and workforce development at TCTC the best outcomes are courses that count toward the student's desired field of study," she said the student is ready to start college," Elmore said which translates into significant savings in both time and tuition costs," she said Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com This May, Cameron Sunkel will graduate from Clemson University’s Master of Architecture program and become the first student at Clemson to complete the Integrated Path to Architecture Licensure (IPAL) program Becoming an IPAL Graduate is a feat only ever accomplished by 41 other individuals nationwide The IPAL program, developed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) offers students an accelerated pathway to completing the three key components of licensure it was a way to fast-track a career he’s long been passionate about the process to licensure can take roughly 13 years,” said Sunkel I was able to complete the necessary education and examination requirements in just three.” He credits the program’s structure and Clemson’s commitment to sustainability and community-based design for pushing him forward Studio experiences such as Lecturer Rayshad Dorsey’s “It Takes a Village” and Associate Professor Dustin Albright’s “At Home in the Upstate” shaped his understanding of architecture as a social and ethical responsibility “These studios were centered around architectural exploration through community development and addressing practical problems faced by local communities,” Sunkel said “They provided students with a unique perspective on architecture from a communal standpoint an opportunity not always available in other academic settings.” Becoming Clemson’s first IPAL Graduate was not without challenges Balancing rigorous studio demands with preparation for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) required extreme discipline and time management But one day stands out as the culmination of it all: September 18  “I was not nervous going into my final ARE exam as I finished and clicked the ‘view potential score’ button in the testing center “When I saw the ‘likely to pass’ message on my screen I rushed out of the testing center to call my family and hurried back to school to share the exciting news with everyone The overwhelming outpouring of encouragement and support from my classmates truly made the moment unforgettable.” Sunkel’s path to architecture began with a high school internship at Proffitt and Associates in Frederick followed by summer internships during his undergraduate studies in interior design he worked full-time at SCM Architects in Fayetteville he interned with HGA Architects in Washington experiences he describes as foundational to his growth as a designer “These firms helped mold and craft me into the designer I am today,” Sunkel shared “I’ve been very blessed to have the opportunity to work with each one.” he’ll continue his architectural journey with Gensler in Charlotte as a technical designer after a well-earned three-week trip through Southeast Asia to explore the architectural marvels of Laos Sunkel hopes his achievement opens doors for others and raises the bar for what Clemson’s IPAL students can achieve “I hope my story will inspire and challenge the Clemson IPAL cohorts to set ambitious goals and strive to pass all six ARE exams before they graduate,” he said Cameron Sunkel is more than a trailblazer; he’s a testament to what’s possible when vision 20vs9Clemson CLEMSON — Clemson baseball went from No. 4 to No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll released May 5 14-10 ACC) received 498 points and no first-place votes They are the third highest ranked ACC team finishing behind Florida State and North Carolina and ahead of NC State and Louisville 3 Florida State in a there-game series in Tallahassee It was its second straight ACC series loss after getting swept by NC State The Tigers are still on track to host an NCAA regional for the third consecutive season it will host Duke in its final home regular season series starting May 9 (6 p.m ACC Network Extra) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium earning 713 points and 12 first-place votes The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of made up of 30 head coaches at Division I institutions Clemon is ranked in the top 12 of every major poll WHAT HAPPENED?: What we learned about slumping Clemson baseball as slide continues in series loss vs FSU 2025 USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches pollTexasArkansasFlorida StateLSUNorth CarolinaGeorgiaOregonAuburnClemsonVanderbiltOregon StateTennesseeWest VirginiaCoastal CarolinaUC IrvineOklahomaUCLATroyNC StateAlabamaSouthern MissOle MissArizonaLouisvilleDallas BaptistClemson baseball scheduleRecord: 37-12 Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X When Elizabeth Caldwell first toured Clemson she didn’t see herself as anything exceptional “I knew that this was my home and where I needed to be,” said Caldwell An invitation to become a National Scholar — one of the University’s premier scholarship programs serving students who demonstrate a unique combination of academic excellence intellectual curiosity and leadership ability — started to help Caldwell believe that she not only belonged at Clemson but that she could become a force for positive change Caldwell was also announced as Clemson University’s Norris Medalist this spring an award that recognizes a graduating student who on the basis of exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership ability is judged by the University Scholarships and Awards Committee to be the best all-around student.  Caldwell sees genomic medicine as a bridge between her studies and research at Clemson and her goals at Yale University where she plans to study for a master’s degree in public health starting this fall Since her first year on the Clemson campus associate professor of genetics and biochemistry in his DNA Repair and Meiotic Homologous Recombination Lab Sehorn invited Caldwell to join the lab while she was still in high school and met with her before her first day of classes at Clemson Sehorn said he knew Caldwell was focused on becoming a physician Caldwell credits her work in the lab with making her fall in love with research Sehorn encouraged Caldwell to apply for the highly selective Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program at St “It is rare for the POE program to accept sophomore students into their program,” said Sehorn “Elizabeth’s performance in that lab earned her an invitation to continue her research this past summer resulting in a publication in the journal Leukemia.” Sehorn noticed a clear change in Caldwell after her time in the POE program she saw how research could influence not only medicine but also promote policy changes that directly affect public health,” said Sehorn Elizabeth will be well equipped to excel in genetics research and engage in building public policy without borders.” In the future, Caldwell plans to work at the intersection of medicine and health care policy, specializing in care for patients with rare genetic diseases implicated in both invisible and visible disabilities. This focus is rooted in her personal experience with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome an understudied disorder that affects the connective tissue in her body Caldwell said her disability wasn’t visible That’s when she started seeing a shift in what people thought she could achieve “I could tell that people significantly lowered their expectations of me versus when they couldn’t see my disability,” said Caldwell If I’m doing well so far and continue to try I feel like I can really make an impact and accomplish even more than what I had originally planned for myself Caldwell has since advocated for increased accessibility for all students on campus serving as the only undergraduate student on Clemson’s Accessibility Commission She also co-founded Tigers 4 Accessibility the University’s first and only student organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive and accessible campus culture and physical environment for students with disabilities Caldwell also advocates for patient health as a volunteer with the Clemson Free Clinic she assisted with the clinic’s recertification application She also developed a Mobility Aid Program to help purchase medical equipment for patients Tigers 4 Accessibility raised more than $4,000 this semester in support of that work She has worked with the clinic’s Produce RX program which offers fresh produce and nutritional education for clients The program has seen a 30% increase in participation under Caldwell’s guidance Caldwell said she plans to carry forward the investment Clemson made in her to others “So much investment was made into me here and I just want to keep supporting Clemson in whatever way possible to ensure that I can invest in students who also might not know what they’re capable of and could be making goals for themselves based on having lower expectations of themselves,” said Caldwell “Clemson will always be really special because it’s where I figured out who I am and what I want to do.” 3vs6Clemson 3 Clemson in Suspended Game5/4/2025 4:05:00 PM | Baseball An unsuspecting Kirby Player was just enjoying the fellowship at Clemson University’s 26th annual CAFLS Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament when College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences dean Matt Holt gathered everyone around for a surprise announcement Holt presented Player with the Order of the Palmetto the highest civilian honor awarded by the State of South Carolina “There could be no more fitting recipient than Dr “Kirby has dedicated his entire life to promoting advancing and strengthening agriculture in South Carolina From his early years growing up on his family’s farm in Lee County to his many decades of service here at Clemson University Kirby’s passion for agriculture – and his commitment to developing leaders across agriculture forestry and natural resources – have been unmatched.” Player, lecturer and coordinator of the Palmetto Leadership Program for the Environment, Agriculture and Forestry A three-time graduate of Clemson and employee of the University for 37 years It was even more special to  receive the honor at the golf tournament in front of former students alums and agricultural leaders that he worked with “And then when (Holt) said the Order of the Palmetto it was a moment of disbelief because so many of my heroes and agricultural icons have received that award The idea that it was something that I could receive was the furthest thing from my mind at this point and time in my life “I was just so humbled that people would think of me to nominate I’m a man of faith so gratitude to God and all of those who helped me to get there Just that aspect of thinking of my parents I’ve had 14 deans and interim deans in my whole career So much of what I’ve done has been a function of other people and what they’ve asked me to do All of that went through my mind at one time.” The two have known each other since high school Spencer was in Player’s second cohort of Palmetto LEAF and now serves as a commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Transportation representing the 5th congressional district In his letter to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster Spencer explained how Player convinced him to participate in Palmetto LEAF “This course has given me and so many others a firm foundation and broad knowledge of business and experiences revolving around our state’s agriculture and forestry resources all the while including the most worthy goal of protecting our environment and ensuring the protection of our most valued assets for generations to come His unbridled enthusiasm for PLEAF and all things agriculture has become contagious to many students and leaders of our beautiful South Carolina.” who approached Player about setting up Palmetto LEAF Palmetto LEAF became the 40th such program in the country and the eighth in the world it will begin recruiting for its fourth cohort “I can think of no one more deserving of the Order of the Palmetto than Dr. Kirby Player,” said Thomas Dobbins, professor and director of Clemson’s Cooperative Extension Service “His unwavering dedication to enhancing the lives of CAFLS students Through his work with the South Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Board he has made significant contributions to conservation practices that benefit all of South Carolina.” Player received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 1983 recreation and tourism management in 1987 and his doctorate in therapeutic recreation in 2015 and mentor,” said University President Jim Clements “He has dedicated his life to advancing agriculture and elevating Clemson University’s land-grant mission of education Player has been awarded the Order of the Palmetto and I am proud of his significant impact on agriculture in the great state of South Carolina and beyond.” 6vs5Clemson Twenty-five faculty and staff were recognized during a celebratory luncheon to honor their 10-month engagement in the President’s Leadership Institute the cohort has met once a month for an all-day session and meetings have been hosted at various locations on campus Congratulations to the following faculty and staff members who graduated as members of the 2024 President’s Leadership Institute Cohort:  Rain Postpones Conclusion of Saturday’s FSU-Clemson Game5/3/2025 9:28:00 PM | Baseball Extended timeline supports strategic alignment foundational readiness and expense management Clemson University is extending the shadow phase of its revenue-based budgeting (RBB) implementation to ensure a strong foundation for long-term success The new timeline reflects the University’s commitment to making this adjustment strategically and intentionally by prioritizing thorough development over speed RBB is a strategic initiative designed to align incentives and accountability across colleges and divisions through active financial management and decision-making at the local level By empowering academic and administrative units to directly connect resources with outcomes informed planning and the long-term goals of Clemson Elevate the University is testing the RBB model in a nonbinding format by mirroring processes and collecting data to evaluate its impact without affecting actual budget allocations This phase has provided valuable insights into operations and surfaced areas where additional groundwork is needed to support a smooth transition Clemson will extend the shadow phase to allow for further development in key areas particularly expense management and baseline planning This extension also provides more time to incorporate feedback from college and division leadership and build out critical resources and tools Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost “Our goal is to ensure that every unit is equipped for success when we move to full implementation.” The RBB team will continue monitoring progress and will share updates with the University community as the project continues Construction will start soon on the much-anticipated campus parking deck in the C-2 parking lot at the corner of Williamson Road and Perimeter Road staff and visitors to campus will soon witness construction fences going up.    Construction fences are scheduled for assembly on May 5 just before Clemson’s graduation celebrations and will remain in place during the entire construction The facility’s central location was chosen because of its relative proximity to the new Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center and its easy access to Tiger Transit The deck will provide high-density parking for students participants of athletic functions and for prospective students participating in on-campus tours Nearby Nu Street will be available for parking during garage construction.  2025 – C-2 Parking Lot – Construction fencing goes up Fall 2026 through Winter Break 2026 – Foundations for pedestrian bridge are scheduled for Fall 2026 Construction will start on the large pedestrian bridge designed to safely take pedestrians across Williamson Road from the parking deck during Winter Break 2026 Fall 2027 – Garage and Pedestrian Bridge open Transit bus stops will remain in their current locations.   The existing bus stop on Nu Street will remain in place to service the Purple Route and the existing stop on Williamson Road will remain in place however the shelter will be moved to service the Nu Street stop.   The new Green Route (Campus Connector) will stop at the existing Williamson Road bus stop to help connect the Clyde V Madren Center and the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center to the main campus.  Up-to-date information on this and other projects are available on the University Facilities Construction Map.  Clemson News is the go-to source for stories and news about the innovations, research and accomplishments of the Clemson Family. Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved. 3 Clemson to Howser5/1/2025 5:55:00 PM | Baseball Jumping out to a 23-2 record before conference play is a great foundation to prepare for a trip to Omaha, but the work does not stop there. The team has played well in a strong Atlantic Coast Conference, though they did run into the buzzsaw that is the Florida State Seminoles over the weekend Entering the series with a 13-8 record in conference play and a 36-10 record overall the Tigers looked to prove their worth against one of the strongest competitors in the conference and after three games would come out on top two games to one It was not for a lack of effort over the weekend game one of the series has the potential to be the game of the year The Tigers answered back with four of their own between the seventh and eighth innings but Florida State tied it at four in the bottom of the ninth to take the game to extras but the Seminoles answered with one of their own in the bottom half Florida State would earn a walk-off victory on an RBI single from center fielder Max Williams The two teams combined for three home runs in the contest Should these two meet in the ACC Tournament It has been a strong year for the Tigers on the diamond led offensively by designated hitter Collin Priest the sophomore has batted .268/.436/.556 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI His .993 OPS on the campaign leads the team among qualified batters Only seven games remain for Clemson in the regular season They still have a chance to improve their standing in college baseball and the ACC and could see themselves in Omaha before all is said and done After dropping its second consecutive ACC series the Clemson baseball team took a tumble in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings The Tigers dropped six spots in the updated rankings after dropping two out of three at Florida State over the weekend Clemson squandered a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and a one-run lead in the bottom of the tenth before eventually falling to the Seminoles in the eleventh inning The Tigers did respond with a 6-3 win in game two but were hammered 20-9 in the series finale on Sunday The series loss comes on the heels of Erik Bakich watching his team get swept in Raleigh by NC State last weekend 16 after losing a midweek game to UNC-Wilmington and dropping both of its games at Miami over the weekend The series finale was canceled due to weather For the second weekend in a row, Clemson baseball has lost an ACC series—this time in Tallahassee including a 20-9 run-rule blowout on Sunday “Just didn’t have the bullets today, and didn’t have the guys we needed to put zeros up,” head coach Erik Bakich said Clemson had a prime chance to open strong Friday leading 4-2 in the ninth with closer Lucas Mahlstedt on the mound gave up two runs to blow his first save of the season Even after a Dominic Lisit homer in the 10th put Clemson back in front Mahlstedt allowed another solo shot to tie it again and the Seminoles walked it off in the 11th The Tigers bounced back with a 6-3 win in game two But depleted pitching hurt them in the finale Freshman Talan Bell and reliever BJ Bailey combined to allow eight runs in the first two innings “They just slugged and we didn’t help ourselves,” Bakich said that seven-run inning was a big moment in the game.” Clemson made it interesting with nine runs across the fourth and sixth innings but couldn’t hold the line The Tigers have now lost six of eight and sit fifth in the ACC just behind Georgia Tech and UNC for a double-bye spot in the ACC Tournament 19 Coastal Carolina on Tuesday before returning home to host Duke “We’ll regroup and we’ll be fine,” Bakich said “But this was certainly an opportunity missed.” Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes For the second straight weekend, Clemson baseball couldn’t finish off an ACC series win—and it’s starting to show in the rankings After falling in two of three games at No. 5 Florida State The Tigers looked poised to take the opener in Tallahassee holding a 4-2 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth But the Seminoles rallied twice—once to force extras and again in the tenth to tie—before walking it off in the 11th Clemson bounced back with a 6-3 win in game two behind late offense and strong bullpen work from Chance Fitzgerald and Reed Garris But Sunday’s finale quickly got away from them as FSU exploded for 20 runs on 21 hits in an eight-inning mercy-rule win Baseball America called Friday’s loss “particularly hard to swallow,” noting how close Clemson came to stealing the opener The Tigers briefly cut into a 10-0 hole on Sunday but couldn’t keep pace with one of the nation’s hottest lineups Florida State’s performance vaulted them five spots to No Clemson has now lost back-to-back ACC series for the first time under Erik Bakich and just the second time since he took over in 2023 the Tigers were swept by NC State in Raleigh 16 after a midweek loss to UNC-Wilmington and two weekend losses at Miami The road doesn’t get any easier for Clemson They’ll face another top-10 opponent Tuesday when they travel to Coastal Carolina They rank 12th in the ACC in slugging percentage (.445) and 14th in batting average (.273) Dominic Listi is still second in the league in on-base percentage at .511 48) both rank among the top 10 in punchouts Aidan Knaak is second in the conference with 80 strikeouts while closer Lucas Mahlstedt leads the ACC with 15 saves Bailey also ranks in the top 10 for fewest runs (7th) Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes Florida State infielder Alex Lodise (1) bats during an NCAA baseball game against Florida in Jacksonville The Atlantic Coast Conference promises high drama over the final two weeks of the regular season with just 1 1/2 games separating first-place Florida State and the teams tied for seventh The next two weekends will determine which four teams earn double byes for the ACC Tournament in Durham 14-7) won two of three at home against Clemson to move past North Carolina State (30-15 The Wolfpack lost two at Miami and the third game of their series was rained out The Seminoles completed the series win against Clemson with a 20-9 walk-off They went deep three times in the eighth inning and finished with six homers in a game for the third time this season Drew Faurot and Alex Lodise connected twice apiece Lodise's .430 batting average and .804 slugging percentage are first in the conference and the junior shortstop has played his way into being a projected second-round draft pick Left-hander Jamie Arnold is the team's top draft prospect 2.29 ERA) ranks among the national leaders in strikeouts per nine innings (11.95) and walks and hits per inning (0.96) and is projected to be among the first five picks 15-9) has the ACC's toughest closing stretch There was disagreement at the top of the polls Monday 1 by D1Baseball.com after it was swept at Arkansas The Razorbacks (40-9) were the top choice in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll 1 in the Baseball America rankings after it swept Missouri on the road and extended its win streak to six games 3 after it lost two of three at Texas A&M 2 and gave Arkansas a hefty promotion from No Florida was 1-11 in Southeastern Conference play Since then the Gators have won 10 of 12 conference games to move into position for an NCAA Tournament bid with Kevin O'Sullivan picking up his 750th career win with Sunday's 8-0 victory in the second game of a doubleheader The sweep was the Gators' first in Columbia since 1996 and first on the road against any team since 2022 Caleb Shpur became the first UConn player since 1979 to have a seven-hit game when he went 7 for 7 with six singles and a home run in a 29-10 win at Villanova on Saturday The previous player to collect seven hits was Payton Brennan of UCLA Arizona State used a five-run seventh inning to beat Baylor 8-6 on Sunday and win the series The Sun Devils have had 112 innings in which they've scored at least two runs 28 innings with at least four and 18 innings with at least five They're second in the Big 12 Conference with 8.5 runs per game Northeastern's 10-0 win over Delaware on Sunday was the Huskies' nation-leading 16th in a row and 14th shutout the most since Oregon State blanked 14 opponents in 2017 The Big East looks like a three-team race with first-place Creighton (31-13 12-3) having won nine straight conference games and UConn (30-18 14-4) having won 12 in a row in league play The Bluejays are percentage points ahead of the Huskies 13-5) plays three games at Creighton this weekend TCU's Colton Griffin tied a single-game school record with three doubles in a 13-6 win over Arizona on Sunday Brandon Bak threw Illinois-Chicago's first no-hitter since 2004 in Saturday's 10-0 seven-inning win at Valparaiso The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months After getting swept at NC State last weekend the Tigers traveled to Tallahassee looking to get back on the winning side of things as the Seminoles took two out of three from Clemson including an emphatic 20-9 run-rule victory in the series finale on Sunday “Just didn’t have the bullets today and didn’t have the guys we needed to put zeros up,” head coach Erik Bakich said Clemson took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth with a fresh Lucas Mahlstedt on the mound The veteran reliever led the nation in saves (15) coming into the weekend and has been about as automatic as a closer can get Mahlstedt took the mound with a chance to set a new program record for saves in a season Mahlestedt would give up two ninth-inning runs that allowed Florida State to tie it up and send it into extra innings the submariner had one more shot to lock it down as Dominic Lisit hit a solo homer in the tenth that put the Tigers right back on top by a run Mahlstedt would then allow a solo home run to the leadoff batter in the bottom half of the inning once again allowing the Seminoles to tie it up Florida State would go on to win it in the bottom of the eleventh Bakich’s team did respond with a 6-3 win in game two With rain halting that one in the eighth inning on Saturday night the two teams completed the contest on Sunday afternoon and Bakich was hopeful his squad had created enough momentum to carry it to a win in the series finale “I thought that would give us the momentum we needed going into game three,” Bakich said “But we just couldn’t stop them today With Bakich having used up his high-leverage relievers in the first two games the Tigers needed a quality start from Talan Bell to really have a shot he wasn’t as sharp as he’s been in recent weeks “They just slugged and we didn’t help ourselves obviously,” Bakich added not being able to field the safety (squeeze) and the collision just all the things that led to that seven-run inning Bakich watched his team crawl its way back into the game Chance Fitzgerald and TP Wentworth would allow nine runs Kieck gave up three in the eighth inning alone Clemson hurlers issued six walks and hit three more batters “Another big moment was us scoring nine runs to get right back into the game,” Bakich added But the inability to put zeros up to allow our offense to continue to separate is what plagued us.” The loss was the Tigers’ sixth in their last eight games The skid has Clemson currently in fifth place in the ACC standings a half game behind Georgia Tech and North Carolina for the fourth spot The top four finishers receive a double-bye in the ACC Tournament later this month The Tigers have one more game remaining on the current seven-game road trip Clemson travels to Coastal for a midweek matchup against the No Coastal took the first game between the two teams 8-2 in Doug Kingsmore the Tigers return home for a three-game set against Duke before hitting the road for the final series of the regular season against Pitt He’s always employed a mentality of the next game being the biggest and the Tigers sure could use a win over a Top 25 team “We’ll regroup and we’ll be fine,” Bakich said “But this was certainly an opportunity missed this weekend Florida State there was a bit of nervousness that once again a lead would be blown as the Tigers clawed back to make it just a two-run game But the Seminoles didn’t blink and dominated the final four frames of the game to run-rule Clemson securing the series to conclude what has been one of the more impressive showings for Link Jarrett’s squad this season Wes Mendes got the start for the Seminoles with the first Clemson batter getting a double to left field to kick things off The pitcher ran down a pop up on the next pitch securing the catch even after colliding with catcher Hunter Carns stranding a runner on third as FSU closed out the inning but Alex Lodise once again let the home run machine go brrrr as he knocked out out to left field Max Williams followed that up with a ground out Myles Bailey singled up the middle but Cal Fisher struck out swinging Lodi off the top of the scoreboard!! pic.twitter.com/Uey5yrtvfq Back out on the mound for the top of the second Mendes struck out one but gave up a single before hitting the next batter Mendes successfully worked his way out of the frame by notching two straight Ks leaving those same two runners stranded to preserve the Florida State lead Drew Faurot was next up to bat for FSU at the bottom of the second hitting a single and then advancing to third after Chase Williams hit a single of his own a wild pitch sent Faurot home and Williams to second though Cmeyla eventually flew out to right field on a 3-1 count Williams stole third as Carns went up to bat eventually being walked to put runners on both corners sending Carns to third and Williams home to make it a 3-0 ballgame the Tigers’ pitcher collided with his second baseman forcing the latter to be removed from the game loading up the bases for Florida State with one out but Max Williams’ pop-up kept FSU from adding any additional runs — at least temporarily as Bailey was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 count to allow Carns to make it 4-0 Fisher kept the scoring going with an RBI of his own sending Harrelson home and keeping the bases loaded with two outs The floodgates were then officially open at that point as another new pitcher for Clemson entered the game walking Farout to allow Lodise to score unearned before a Chase Williams single brought both Fisher and Bailey home making it 8-0 before a Cmeyla groundout ended the inning The top of the third inning kicked off with left field flyout and was ended by a second left field flyout to make it a quick 1-2-3 The bottom frame saw Florida State pick up where it left out with Carns hitting a single to the right with Harrelson following up with a double right after Harrelson advanced to third on a Max Williams flyout Bailey attempted to steal second but was caught Clemson finally made a bit of noise by scoring its first runs of the game — with two on and one out a single sent a Tigers’ runner home with Clemson then loading the bases with another single who walked the next Clemson batter to allow another runner to reach home Peyton Manca then relieved Knier with the bases still loaded but once again the Tigers tacked on another run on a walk Manca struck out the next batter on a 3-2 count and then a pop-up caught by Lodise finally ended the inning at 10-5 Florida State managed to get one run back in the bottom of the fourth but left two stranded after a Harrelson groundout There was no continuation of Clemson’s attack in the top of the fifth a three-up-three-down frame overseen by Manca but in the sixth (following the first scoreless inning for FSU in the game) a two-run homer made it 11-7 with one out and suddenly giving up a single but leading FSU out of the inning with its lead intact Florida State responded immediately in the bottom of the sixth — Farout homered to push the Seminoles back out in front 12-9 but that was all the action in store before a Williams ground out It's FaurOUT of here! pic.twitter.com/OjoGbqUKgs Bailey Blast!! pic.twitter.com/BVO2B5wuRK Clemson couldn’t get anything going in the next inning getting one hit but seeing two batters go down swinging With the Tigers now trotting out their ninth pitcher of the game at the bottom of the eighth Harrelson doubled up the middle to start things off — right after then Max Williams added another home run of his own to push FSU’s lead to nine Lodi long ball!! ☄️ pic.twitter.com/BhJF6hvtKG Fisher was walked and then Farout smacked another ball making it 20-9 to secure the run-rule win and series over Clemson Drew walks it off!!!!Series win for #5 FSU over #3 Clemson!!LET'S GO NOLES!!!!! pic.twitter.com/zEX05DYXFI Joey Volini made quick work of the Tigers in the first inning, working around a two out walk. Florida State threatened in their frame with a leadoff walk from Gage Harrelson Max Williams singled to put two on with one out but Myles Bailey fanned and Cal Fisher grounded out to end the inning Volini cruised in the second with a 1-2-3 inning whereas the Seminoles were unable to do anything with a leadoff Drew Faurot single It was more of the same in the third for Volini as he sat down the Tigers in order again. FSU picked up two outs before Lodise walked and Max Williams was hit by a pitch the Tigers only saw nine pitches in another 1-2-3 inning the Seminoles only mustered a two out single from Chase Williams Clemson finally broke through in the fifth with a leadoff double The Tigers followed it up with two sacrifice bunts to plate the first run of the game The lead did not last long for Clemson as Nathan Cmeyla led off the bottom of the fifth with a homerun to left center. Harrelson followed that up with a single and an error that allowed him to advance to second. Lodise popped out to the shortstop and the Tigers intentionally walked Max Williams. Clemson turned to the bullpen and Bailey greeted the new pitcher with an RBI double, giving FSU a 2-1 lead Fisher popped up to first and Faurot flied out to end the inning Nathan Cmeyla answers!! His first as a Nole! ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/OhSFhCvqGq Clemson led off the sixth with an infield single but it was quickly erased with a double play. Volini finished off the inning with his third strikeout of the game. FSU went 1-2-3 in their half of the inning Volini allowed a two out walk but picked off the runner to end the inning Harrelson opened the bottom of the inning with a solo blast to right to extend the lead to 3-1 Bailey was hit by a pitch and Fisher singled to put two men on base but a Faurot K ended the inning The Tigers led off the inning with a single before a strikeout A double put runners at second and third before another strikeout out by Volini Clemson’s Cam Cannarella tripled to center and then scored on an errant relay throw Volini finished the inning with his seventh strikeout Williams struck out swinging and then Hankerson was walked before weather forced the game's postponement leading to the teams finishing up the final three frames on Sunday ahead of game three Cmeyla was the first up on Sunday, himself going out swinging, with BJ Gibson (pinch running for Hankerson) stealing second. Harrelson was walked, but then Lodise’s foul ball was caught by the Clemson catcher to leave two stranded for the Seminoles heading into the ninth Peyton Prescott entered the game for Volini at the top of the 9th striking out the first Clemson batter before giving up a single The Tigers then tacked on another run as an error on a double turned it into an RBI double — Link Jarrett took exception to the play saying the runner interfered with the throw but it was unchallengeable — and then put another man on base as Prescott walked another a sac-fly gave Clemson another run before the inning closed out Facing a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth Williams got onto first before a Bailey groundout led to a double-play ending the ball game to force a rubber match between the two top 5 squads Jamie Arnold and the Seminoles kept Clemson grounded through six innings before a bullpen collapse appeared to doom FSU in game one against the Tigers the Seminoles sent the game to extras before ultimately winning 6-5 in the eleventh inning Arnold allowed a one out double in the first before retiring the next two Tigers Clemson started the second with a leadoff walk but vintage Arnold struck out the next three batters The Seminoles threatened in the bottom half of the inning after Drew Faurot reached on a two out error Chase Williams doubled to advance Faurot to third but Jaxson West flied out to end the inning Williams and West grounded out and flew out respectively Clemson again picked up another two out walk in the fifth and again Arnold closed the door Gage Harrelson picked up a one out walk in the bottom of the fifth but Lodise hit into an inning ending double play The inning started with a hit by pitch but the runner was quickly erased in a caught stealing and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with just one out With Clemson poised to tie or even take the lead Max Williams caught the fly and gunned down the Clemson runner at third before the Tigers could plate the run at home The incredible defensive play kept the game at 1-0 in favor of the ‘Noles What a play!!! Jamie Arnold ESCAPES and Florida State leads Clemson 1-0 in the 6th after getting trail runner at 3rd. pic.twitter.com/Igm5MFNZuR Cal Fisher crushed a homerun to left to give FSU a 2-0 lead Faurot walked next but was picked off at first Arnold received the call to start the seventh and gave up a leadoff single After not appearing in a game for nearly two weeks Joe Charles relieved Arnold and the wheels came off for FSU Charles walked the first runner he faced before Clemson moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt Clemson then followed that up with a two-run single and a one-run double to take a 3-2 lead John Abraham was called in next to try and stop the Tiger’s run Abe picked off the runner at second for out number two Clemson picked up another double but luckily the bases were empty and Abe ended the inning with a flyout from the next batter Chase Williams opened up the bottom of the seventh with a bloop single Williams took third on a steal but Hunter Carns and Harrelson both fanned to squander the opportunity The Tigers started the eighth with a double and then scored that runner off a one out single to extend the lead to 4-2 Max Williams reached in the eighth on a one out single but FSU was unable to record any other baserunners Abraham shut down Clemson 1-2-3 in the ninth leaving FSU three outs to turn around their fate Faurot led off the inning with a groundout before Chase Williams doubled off the right field fence West advanced Williams to third on a groundout and James Hankerson sliced a double to left to cut the lead to 4-3 Harrelson ripped a single off the third baseman’s glove to score pinch runner BJ Gibson and send the game to extras The high would not last long though as Clemson homered in the top of the 10th to retake the lead Abe allowed the next two runners to reach and was relieved by Chris Knier shutting down the Tigers to end the inning Max Williams led off the bottom of the tenth and promptly deposited a blast over the right field fence to tie the game at five apiece Bailey struck out before back-to-back singles by Fisher and Chase Williams Pretty sure that one hit the circus tent!! pic.twitter.com/C3M36Bb5AF The Seminoles turned to Peyton Prescott to begin the eleventh He walked the first batter he faced before picking up two outs Another Clemson walk put runners at first and second before Prescott picked up an inning ending strikeout Nathan Cmeyla led off the eleventh inning with a single to left before Harrelson sacrifice bunted him to second The Tigers intentionally walked Lodise to face Max Williams in a lefty on lefty matchup Williams singled to left to bring Cmeyla home with a play at the plate The tag was close and Cmeyla was called safe initially A review confirmed the call and the hero of the tenth was again the hero of the eleventh Max Williams’ RBI single to left was the difference maker in FSU’s 6-5 win over Clemson in game one Max Williams WALKS IT OFF Florida State takes the opener over #3 Clemson in 11 innings. What a finish pic.twitter.com/nSUH1G5Byg Final review at the plate pic.twitter.com/NUvQwy3lxA Shop FSU Seminoles Merch The Clemson Tigers sure look poised for a big year ahead in 2025 While kickoff for the 2025 college football season is still over three months away, the hype and buzz around the Clemson program has been building for months The Tigers' spring game did nothing to dampen those spirits running back Gideon Davidson and transfer linebacker Jeremiah Alexander all having impressive showings in the annual Orange and White Game the highlight being a 73-yard touchdown against cornerback Corian Gipson Davidson rushed for 31 yards and went for 43 yards receiving out of the backfield Alexander notched seven tackles (four solo) With quarterback Cade Klubnik taking a gargantuan step forward in 2024 (3,639 yards 36 touchdowns) and showing off the tools that made him a 5-star recruit out of Austin plus a defensive line that returns projected top NFL draft picks T.J Parker and Peter Woods from a team that won 10 games and the ACC title Clemson has the talent to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff On Monday, USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg re-ranked all 136 teams that will compete at the FBS level in 2025 following the conclusion of spring practices across the country. Clemson was ranked No. 2 behind the Texas Longhorns and first-year starting quarterback Arch Manning Dabo Swinney's team ranked ahead of Penn State at No. 3, the Georgia Bulldogs at No. 4, and Notre Dame at No Clemson's season-opening opponent, the LSU Tigers, were ranked No. 6. Behind Clemson, the highest ACC team in Myerberg's re-rank were the Miami Hurricanes at No. 9. Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals cracked the top 25 at No Further down Myerberg's rankings, Florida State was at No 50 after the Seminoles' ugly 2-10 campaign last season and South Carolina placed just outside the top 25 at No "Klubnik and the defending ACC champions will be expected to repeat in 2025 and go deeper into the playoff The offense could have issues at RB after projected starter Jay Haynes tore his ACL in the ACC title game though freshmen David Eziomume and Gideon Davidson looked good in the spring expect Clemson to rebound under new coordinator Tom Allen after falling to ninth in the ACC in yards allowed per play this past season The pieces are in place for a run at the national title." Clemson hosts LSU and Garrett Nussmeier in a battle of early Heisman Trophy favorites Aug The Clemson Tigers dropped their second straight series in ACC play Sunday when the Florida State Seminoles jumped out to a 10-0 lead and roared back in the late innings for a 20-9 run-rule victory in eight innings at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee Erik Bakich's Tigers fell five spots to No. 9. They rank one spot below the No. 8 Auburn Tigers (33-15) and one spot ahead of the Vanderbilt Commodores (34-14) at No For the fourth week in a row, the Texas Longhorns (38-8 overall) held on to the top spot -- despite being swept at Arkansas (40-9) and being outscored 28-9 in the series' three games in Fayetteville. It was the Longhorns' first series loss of the 2025 season Florida State's big series victory over Clemson propelled the Seminoles (33-10) five spots to No. 3 in this week's poll. LSU (38-11), which dropped two of three at Texas A&M and was held to seven runs over the weekend, fell two spots to No. 4, with North Carolina (35-10) at No No. 6 Georgia (39-11) and No. 7 Oregon (33-13) also moved ahead of Clemson in the rankings Outside the top 10, Tennessee and UC Irvine suffered the biggest drop of any ranked teams. The Volunteers (37-11) fell six spots to No. 12 after dropping two of three to Auburn while UC Irvine (34-11) fell six spots to No 14 Coastal Carolina (37-11) Tuesday in Conway It's the Tigers' final midweek game of the season The game will be available to stream via ESPN+ The Tigers will host the Duke Blue Devils (30-15) in the final home series of the regular season at Doug Kingsmore Stadium beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Duke is unranked but received 10 votes for top 25 consideration Monday