No. 17 Clemson tries to keep ACC title game hopes alive against suddenly struggling Pitt

17 Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ACC) at Pittsburgh (7-2, 3-2), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: 10 to 10 on Clemson.

Series record: Pitt leads 3-2.

WHAT’S ABOUT IT?

The Tigers can keep their hopes of reaching the ACC championship game alive with a victory over the Panthers, who have lost two straight after a 7-0 start. Pitt technically remains in contention for the conference championship game, but the Panthers have more pressing needs to fix an offense that has made significant strides in the last month.

KEY MATCH

Pitt’s offensive line against Clemson’s defensive front. The Panthers struggled to protect redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein, who left last week’s loss to Virginia after taking a shot to the head while skating. While Clemson’s passing offense isn’t as fierce as it was during its decade-plus run among the ACC and nation’s elite, the Tigers may not need to make things difficult against a line that looked disjointed against the Cavaliers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Clemson: QB Cade Klubnik. The young player’s numbers have dropped in recent weeks. He completed just 54% of his passes in November and had a season-high four sacks last Saturday against Virginia Tech. Pitt figures to apply pressure regularly, which means Klubnik will have a chance to make plays downfield if he can hang in there.

Pittsburgh: LB Kyle Louis. The sophomore’s four interceptions rank fifth nationally and top among linebackers. Louis also ties for the team lead with five sacks. The speedy Louis is playing with the edge Pitt desperately needs as they try to find their way out of this funk that has taken some of the shine off the program’s best start in more than 40 years.

FACTS AND FIGURES

This was the first meeting between the schools since the Panthers beat Clemson 27-17 at Acrisure Stadium in 2021 to capture the ACC title. … Clemson needs a win and at least one loss at No. 12 Miami or two losses at No. 14 SMU to advance to the ACC title game for the seventh time in the last 10 years. … Holstein’s situation may be uncertain. The Alabama transfer took a shot to the head at the end of a third-quarter tackle against the Cavaliers. If he can’t go, Nate Yarnell will start. … In conference play, Pitt’s offense was down significantly. The Panthers are averaging 351 yards in ACC games (13th) after averaging 522 yards receiving in their non-conference schedule. … Panther RB Desmond Reid has been one of the few offensive bright spots in Pitt’s recent slump. The transfer from Western Carolina ranks fifth nationally in all-purpose yards (155.63). … The pressure on Pitt has increased in recent weeks. The Panthers rank fifth in the FBS in sacks per game (3.33).

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