CFB: Orange Bowl Preview – Tennessee Volunteers (10-2) at Clemson Tigers (11-2)

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS NOTES:

STORYLINES
• BIG ORANGE BOWL: The sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are Orange Bowl bound for the first time in 25 years as they head south to Miami to square off with the ACC champion Clemson Tigers. Clemson enters the game ranked one spot behind the Vols in the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 7 after going 11-2 this season, including a perfect 8-0 record in conference play. Both teams are coming off victories in their last game, as UT dominated in-state rival Vanderbilt with a 56-0 shutout victory in Nashville on Nov. 26 while Clemson cruised to a 39-10 win over North Carolina in the ACC title game to win its sixth consecutive conference championship. Tennessee’s last appearance in the Orange Bowl came after the 1997 season, a disappointing 42-17 loss to No. 2 Nebraska in what was Peyton Manning’s final game in the Orange & White. The Vols are 1-3 all-time in the Orange Bowl and will be looking to snap a three-game skid in the game after defeating Oklahoma 17-0 in their first trip to Miami back in 1939. UT’s other Orange Bowl appearances came in 1947 (L, 8-0 to Rice) and 1968 (L, 26-24 to Oklahoma). Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is no stranger to the Orange Bowl, having participated in the game twice during his career, once as a player and once as a graduate assistant coach. As the starting quarterback, Heupel led the Oklahoma Sooners to a National Championship in the 2001 Orange Bowl with a 13-2 victory over Florida State. Heupel returned to Miami following the 2004 season as a graduate assistant with the Sooners when they played for another national title in the 2005 Orange Bowl, a loss to Southern Cal. A win on Friday night would give the Vols their first 11-win season since finishing 11-2 in 2001.

• REGULAR SEASON RECAP: Tennessee is coming off its best regular season since 2003, winning 10 games for the first time since that year, including victories over formidable SEC foes Florida, LSU, Alabama and Kentucky. The Vols join TCU as the only programs in the nation with fi ve or more wins vs. AP Top 25 teams at the time of the meeting. It’s the first time in school history that they have achieved that feat in a regular season and the first in an entire season (including SEC Championship and bowl game) since 1998 (won six). UT was ranked No. 1 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, becoming just the seventh program to ever achieve the top spot in the CFP rankings (since 2013). The Big Orange started the season 8-0 for the first time since their perfect 13-0 season in 1998 when they won the BCS National Championship. The Vols recorded a handful of impressive wins, including a 27-point road victory at current No. 17 and SEC West champion LSU, as well as a 52-49 thriller over No. 5 Alabama on Oct. 15, the most points allowed by the Tide in a game since 1907.

• MILTON’S TIME TO SHINE: Sr. QB Joe Milton III, who owns one more year of eligibility, will make his fourth start as a Vol and the ninth of his career in Friday’s Orange Bowl. The Florida native started home games vs. Bowling Green (Sept. 2) and Pitt (Sept. 11) last season before his roommate Hendon Hooker became the starter after Milton exited the Pitt game due to injury. Milton started the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt and led the Vols to a dominating 56-0 win after Hooker went down with a season-ending injury at South Carolina the week prior. This season, Milton is 34-of-54 passing for 720 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

• THE NATION’S NO. 1 OFFENSE: Tennessee’s high-powered offense is No. 1 in the nation in total offense (538.1), scoring offense (47.3), passing efficiency (181.59) and rushing touchdowns (39). The Vols are third in passing offense (332.3) and fifth in completion percentage (68.8). The Vols have amassed a school-record and nation-best 568 points, shattering last year’s record of 511. UT leads the SEC in numerous offensive categories, including: scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, completion percentage, fewest interceptions (3), passing efficiency, passing yards per completion (14.72), fi rst downs (310) and rushing TDs

BY THE NUMBERS
+9 – turnover margin by Tennessee, which is 1st in SEC, 13th FBS (forced 20; Vols lost TO battle only twice this year -1 vs. Alabama & SC)

111.8 – rushing yards per game allowed by the Tennessee defense, which is No. 20 in the FBS and No. 2 in the SEC (held LSU 55, Alabama 114)

568 – total points scored by Tennessee this season, which leads the FBS and shattered the previous program record of 511 that was set last year

5 – Vols with five or more rushing TDs this season, marking first time that’s been done by UT in modern era (since 1933)

NOTING THE TENNESSEE-CLEMSON SERIES
• Tennessee and Clemson will meet for the 20th time in series history. Once a storied rivalry, the Vols and Tigers have played just once since the 1976 season.

• The Vols lead the all-time series, 11-6-2.

• The two sides are squaring off in a bowl game for just the second time in the series. The last bowl matchup also featured a New Year’s Six bowl in the 2004 Chick-fi l-A Peach Bowl played in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.

• The last time Tennessee finished the regular season with 10 wins, it faced Clemson in its New Year’s Six bowl game.

• Coincidentally, the last time Tennessee played a game in Miami, Florida? 2003 when it defeated the eighth-ranked Hurricanes, 10-6, at the old Miami Orange Bowl.

• The two schools are separated by a point-to-point distance of 108 miles across the Great Smoky Mountains – the same approximate point-to-point distance as Knoxville to Chattanooga.

• After facing five consecutive Big Ten Conference opponents in bowl games, Tennessee will face a foe from the ACC in a bowl for the first time since 2010. The last time the Vols faced the same conference (other than the SEC) twice in a single season was also 2003 when UT defeated Duke before facing the Tigers in the Peach Bowl.

• UT is X-X vs. current ACC foes in bowl games.

• The Vols have played just once inside Hard Rock Stadium, facing Nebraska in 1998 in what was then called Pro Player Stadium. That game marked VFL Peyton Manning’s last time under center for the Orange & White.

• The game will mark the 10th time in program history Tennessee has faced a team in the ACC at the time of the game (Maryland – 4, Clemson – 2*, North Carolina – 1, Florida State – 1, Virginia – 1, Virginia Tech – 1). * – includes this year’s game

SERIES HISTORY vs. CLEMSON
20TH MEETING
TENNESSEE LEADS (11-6-2)
in Knoxville: 9-3-1
in Clemson: 2-2-1
at neutral site: 0-1
Biggest Win: 44 points (44-0, 1931 in Knoxville)
Biggest Loss: 16 points (0-16, 1906 in Clemson)
Longest Winning Streak: 7 games (1920-76)
Longest Losing Streak: 2 games (1902-04)
Current Streak: Clemson 1 game
1901 Knoxville T 6-6
1902 Knoxville L 0-11
1904 Knoxville L 0-6
1905 Clemson T 5-5
1906 Clemson L 0-16
1907 Clemson W 4-0
1908 Knoxville W 6-5
1914 Knoxville W 27-0
1915 Knoxville L 0-3
1916 Clemson W 14-0
1919 Clemson L 0-14
1920 Clemson W 26-0
1930 Knoxville W 27-0
1931 Knoxville W 44-0
1938 Knoxville W 20-7
1944 Knoxville W 26-7
1974 Knoxville W 29-28
1976 Knoxville W 21-19
2003 Atlanta L 14-27

EPIC STARTS
• Tennessee outscores opponents 324-123 in the first quarter under Josh Heupel, including 190-51 in 2021 and 134-72 this season. The Vols have scored at least one touchdown in the first quarter in 23 of 25 games under Heupel with this season’s games against Florida and Georgia being the only exception.

• Josh Heupel teams are known for quick starts. In 61 games as a head coach, Heupel’s squads have outscored opponents 771-337 in the first quarter (324-123 at UT, 447-214 at UCF). No active FBS head coach scores more points per first quarter in a career than Heupel since 2018 (12.64). Nick Saban is second at 11.59. via SportSource

• In the last two seasons combined under Heupel, the Vols are first in the nation in first-quarter scoring at 12.96 points per game. Ohio State is second at 11.44 during that span.

• In the last two seasons combined under Heupel, Tennessee is second in the FBS in first-quarter scoring differential (+8.04). Georgia is first (+8.21).

• Since the start of the 2018 season, Josh Heupel ranks second among all FBS coaches in first-quarter scoring differential (+7.11). Alabama’s Nick Saban is first (+7.69).

• Heupel’s teams have scored at least one touchdown in the first quarter in 55 of the 61 games he has coached.

FAST, FUN, REAL
• In the last two seasons combined under Josh Heupel (including 2022), Tennessee is averaging a nation-best 2.94 plays per minute. During that same span, the Vols are averaging a nation-best 1.74 offensive points per minute. Ohio State is second in that category at 1.50. This season alone, the Vols are first in the nation in offensive points per minute (1.87) and third in offensive plays per minute (2.89). Ole Miss and Oklahoma (2.90) are tied for first.

• Of Tennessee’s 89 scoring drives this season, 49 have come in two minutes or less (55.1 percent).

• From 2018-20, Heupel’s UCF teams averaged a nation-high 3.04 plays per minute.

• Since the start of the 2018 season, Heupel-coached teams lead the nation in offensive plays per minute (2.99) and offensive points per minute (1.65).

RESPONDING IN THE MIDDLE QUARTERS
• A big emphasis of Tennessee’s off season was second-quarter improvement. The Vols were outscored 143-109 in the second stanza in 2021. However, this season, Tennessee is outscoring opponents 189-75 in the second quarter.

• The Vols are first in the nation in second-quarter scoring average (15.75 ppg). Oregon is second (15.00).

• Tennessee is second in the country in second-quarter scoring differential (+9.77), while Texas is second (+9.50).

• Tennessee has also been productive in the third quarter, outscoring opponents, 127-56.

AIMING FOR FIRST 11-WIN SEASON SINCE 2001
• Prior to its first defeat at Georgia on Nov. 5, the Vols won their first eight games of a season for the first time since their 1998 national championship year. It was the seventh time in the SEC era (since 1933) that the Vols started 8-0 without any ties. The others: 1998 (Fulmer), 1956 (Wyatt), 1951 (Neyland), 1940 (Neyland), 1939 (Neyland) and 1938 (Neyland).

• Josh Heupel was the fourth coach in Tennessee history to win his first eight games of a season in the SEC era, joining Phillip Fulmer, Bowden Wyatt and General Robert Neyland.

• The Vols are seeking their first 11-win season since 2001. They have already secured their first 10-win regular season since 2003. UT has produced 15 10-win regular seasons in its history: 2022 (10), 2003 (10), 2001 (10), 1998 (11), 1997 (10), 1995 (10), 1993* (10), 1989 (10), 1970 (10), 1956 (10), 1951 (10), 1950 (10), 1940 (10), 1939 (10), 1938 (10).

• – 1993 17-17 tie vs. Alabama was later forfeited to Tennessee as a result of NCAA sanctions

NOTING TIM BANKS’ DEFENSE
• Tim Banks is in his second season as the Vols’ defensive coordinator and his unit features more depth.

• UT is second in the SEC in tackles for loss per game (7.17) and total tackles for loss (86.0).

• A total of 25 different Vols have at least 0.5 tackles for loss this season, including 18 with 2.0 or more. All-SEC edge rusher Byron Young leads the way with 10.0, which is tied for 11th in the SEC.

• The Vols are fifth in the SEC in total sacks (27.0) and sacks per game (2.25). Young leads the team with 5.0 sacks, which is tied for 11th in the conference.

• Tennessee has posted 225 total pressures this season according to PFF led by Byron Young’s 36.

• In the Vols’ 56-0 win in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt, they posted their second shutout of the Heupel era and the program’s first against an SEC opponent since 2003, racking up 13.0 TFLs and three sacks.

• The defense set the tone in the Vols’ big 40-13 win at No. 25 LSU on Oct. 8. They registered five sacks, nine tackles for loss and 20 QB pressures according to PFF. UT also limited the Tigers to 0-of-3 on fourth down and only 55 yards rushing.

• Tennessee played arguably its most complete defensive game of the season in a 44-6 rout of No. 19 Kentucky on Oct. 29. The Vols limited 2023 NFL Draft first round projection Will Levis to just 98 yards through the air – his second-lowest output as a starter at Kentucky. UK came into the game averaging over 260 yards passing and finished 162 below its average. The six points were the fewest allowed by a Tennessee defense in an SEC game since beating Mississippi State, 34-3, on Oct. 18, 2008. It was also the fewest allowed by the Vols vs. a ranked SEC team since losing 6-3 to No. 5 Alabama on Oct. 22, 2005.

• LB Aaron Beasley leads the team in total tackles with 64. He registered a career-best three tackles for loss in his last game at South Carolina.

• S Trevon Flowers ranks second on the Vols with 57 total tackles, including 34 of the solo variety. Flowers was a semi-finalist for the Thorpe Award. He was one 12 players in the nation on the list and one of just four from the SEC. The Atlanta native was the seventh player in program history to be named a semi-finalist for the Thorpe Award, joining an impressive list of former Vols that includes Eric Berry (finalist in 2008, winner in 2009), Jason Allen (semi-finalist in 2004), Andre Lott (semi-finalist in 2000), Dwayne Goodrich (semi-finalist in 1999), Deon Grant (finalist in 1999) and Dale Carter (finalist in 1991).

• Flowers also has one sack, two interceptions and two forced fumbles to his credit, including one at No. 1 Georgia.

STRIKING ON FIRST PLAY, FIRST SERIES
• Three times under head coach Josh Heupel, Tennessee has scored on its first offensive play of a game, doing so vs. Ball State in the season opener. Following an interception by Tamarion McDonald, QB Hendon Hooker found WR Jalin Hyatt on a 23-yard touchdown pass on the first offensive play of the season.

• The Vols scored on the first offensive play twice last season, a 2-yard run by Jabari Small vs. Pitt on Sept. 11 and a 75-yard touchdown pass by Hendon Hooker to JaVonta Payton at Kentucky on Nov. 6.

• Tennessee has scored on their opening drive of the game in nine of 12 games this season, with eight of those ending in touchdowns. They have scored on their fi rst possession in now eight straight games entering Friday’s Orange Bowl vs. Clemson. Seven of those have resulted in touchdowns, including in its last three games.

REDZONE OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
• Tennessee has converted 59 of its 63 redzone trips offensively this season, including 50 for touchdowns. That scoring percentage of 93.7 ranks sixth in the nation and second in the SEC.

• The Vols’ 79.4 touchdown percentage in the redzone leads the nation.

• In two seasons under Josh Heupel, the Vols have scored on 108-of-121 (89.3 percent) redzone trips with 82 touchdowns.

• Tennessee converted its first 36 redzone attempts of the season before coming up short on its fi rst one with backups in the third quarter of the UT Martin game in Week 7 on Oct. 22. The Vols got into the redzone, had a penalty and then missed a fi eld goal.

CLEMSON TIGERS NOTES:

Fresh off its 21st all-time ACC championship and its seventh outright conference crown in eight years, Clemson (AP Poll No. 10, Coaches Poll No. 11, CFP No. 7) will attempt to record its seventh 12-win season in team history when it faces consensus No. 6 Tennessee in the 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. is set for 8 p.m. ET.

Clemson will be making its seventh all-time appearance in the Orange Bowl, a game in which the Tigers hold a 4-2 record. The game was the site of Clemson’s first national championship victory on New Year’s Day 1982, when the Tigers defeated Nebraska, 22-15. Clemson has won each of its last two Orange Bowl appearances, including a 40-35 win over Ohio State to end the 2013 season and a 37-17 College Football Playoff semifinal
win over Oklahoma in 2015.

Head Coach Dabo Swinney will be coaching his 200th career game at Clemson, joining Frank Howard (295) as the only coaches in school history to serve as head coach for 200 career contests. With a 161-38 career mark, Swinney will attempt to earn his 162nd victory in his 200th career game as head coach to tie Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne (162 each) for the third-most wins through 200 career games in major college football history, trailing Urban Meyer (170) and Gil Dobie (163). Swinney’s 161 wins are already the second-most through the first 15 seasons in a career in FBS history, including his debut season in 2008 in which he was limited to only seven games after ascending to the position in an interim capacity.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik is expected to make his first career start in the contest after earning ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player honors for his sterling performance in reserve against North Carolina. Klubnik will become the first Clemson quarterback to make his starting debut in a postseason game since Clemson abandoned the single-wing offense in favor of the T-formation in 1953. Since 2022, Clemson quarterbacks are 9-2 in the first career starts with wins by Charlie Whitehurst, Will Proctor, Cullen Harper, Kyle Parker, Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, Kelly Bryant, Trevor Lawrence and DJ Uiagalelei.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK

• Clemson attempting to produce its seventh 12-win season in program history, joining the 1981 (12), 2015 (14), 2016 (14), 2017 (12), 2018 (15) and 2019 (14) seasons.
• Clemson (five) attempting to join Alabama (six) as the only programs in the nation to post at least six 12-win seasons since 2015.
• Clemson’s 2022 squad attempting to match its 1981 and 2017 teams for the fifth-most wins in a season in school history.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 27-22 all-time in bowl contests. A 27th bowl win would move Clemson into ninth in FBS history. (Note: Ohio State can also earn its 27th all-time bowl victory this year.)
• Clemson attempting to win at least one bowl game in nine of its last 11 seasons. A win would make Clemson 11-4 in bowl games since 2012, including College Football Playoff National Championship Games.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 5-2 all-time in Orange Bowl play, joining wins in the 1950, 1981, 2013 and 2015 seasons.
• Clemson attempting to win its third consecutive Orange Bowl, including victories in its last two appearances in the 2013 and 2015 seasons.
• Clemson (four) attempting to join Oklahoma (12), Nebraska (eight), Miami (Fla.) (six), Alabama (five) and Florida State (five) as the only programs ever to win five Orange Bowls.
• Clemson entering the game having won a postseason game (conference championship, bowl game and/or national championship game) for 12 consecutive seasons. Clemson’s current 12-year streak is the longest active streak in the country and passed 1985-95 Florida State (11) for the longest streak on record back to 1980, according to Stats Perform.
• Head Coach Dabo Swinney making his 19th bowl game appearance to break Bobby Bowden’s ACC record (18) for the most career bowl appearances leading an ACC program.
• Swinney (11) sitting one bowl victory (including CFP National Championship Games) shy of breaking Bowden’s ACC record (11) for the most career bowl wins leading an ACC program.
• Swinney coaching his 200th career game to join Frank Howard (295) as the only head coaches in school history to coach 200 career games at Clemson.
• Swinney joining Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (227) and Virginia’s George Welsh (223) as the only coaches to lead an ACC program in at least 200 career games.
• Swinney attempting to earn his 162nd victory in his 200th career game as head coach to tie Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne (162 each) for the third-most wins through 200 career games in major college football history, trailing Urban Meyer (170) and Gil Dobie (163).
• Swinney (161) attempting to add to his mark as the second-winningest coach in FBS history through the first 15 seasons of a career. Swinney ranks second behind only Urban Meyer (165). Swinney’s win total includes his interim season in which he only coached seven games.
• Swinney attempting to improve to 20-8 all-time in postseason play, including both conference championship games and bowl games. A win would improve him to 9-2 in 11 postseason contests since 2018.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 16-12 all-time in games between AP Top 10 teams. Clemson is 12-6 against AP Top 10 teams in the College Football Playoff era, with all six losses coming to College Football Playoff participants (including four national champions).
• Clemson facing multiple AP Top 10 teams in a season for the seventh time in eight years.
• Clemson facing Tennessee for the 20th time in school history, a series that dates to John Heisman’s Tigers facing the Volunteers at Knoxville’s Chilhowee Park in 1901.
• Clemson attempting to earn its seventh all-time victory against Tennessee.
• Clemson attempting to make Tennessee the fifth different opponent defeated by the Tigers in multiple bowl games all-time, joining Ohio State (four), Oklahoma (three) and Alabama (two), Kentucky (two). In addition to Tennessee, Clemson has defeated Boston College, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, TCU and West Virginia once each in bowl play.
• Clemson attempting to win its 17th consecutive December game, dating to Clemson’s 2011 ACC Championship Game victory against Virginia Tech.
  Clemson (16-0) is one of three schools to be undefeated in December since 2011 with a minimum of five games played, a list that also includes Alabama (13-0) and Penn State (7-0).
• Clemson attempting to improve to 28-13 all-time in December games, including postseason play.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 5-0 against AP Top 25 opponents (at kickoff) this season.
• Clemson (four) attempting to tie the school record for wins against AP-ranked teams in a single season (five in 2016 and 2017). (Note: Clemson’s 2017 team also had a win against a South Carolina squad that was ranked No. 24 in the College Football Playoff poll but was unranked
  by the Associated Press.)
• Clemson playing its eighth night game of 2022, tying the 2017 and 2019 campaigns for the second-most in a season in Clemson history.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 28-5 in night games since the start of the 2018 season. A win would move Clemson to 47-8 at night since 2015.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 49-10 in games away from home, including neutral-site contests, since 2015.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 34-16 under Dabo Swinney in games when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. A win would make Clemson 28-6 since 2015 in games between ranked teams.
• Clemson playing its 154th consecutive game since losing back-to-back games in a single season. Clemson’s 153-game streak dating to 2011 is the nation’s longest active streak.
• Clemson attempting to improve to 14-6 against SEC opponents in the College Football Playoff era. Clemson is currently 7-2 against SEC East foes since 2014 and 6-2 against the SEC West since the start of the 2016 season.
• Clemson facing Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel for the first time. A win would improve Clemson to 43-5 when facing an opposing head coach for the first time since 2011 and 160-71-3 since 1950.
• Clemson attempting to score 30 points in a fifth consecutive game and for the 12th time this season.
• Clemson (451) sitting 49 points shy of the eighth 500-point season in school history.
• Clemson (56) needing four touchdowns to post the ninth 60-touchdown season in program history.
• Clemson entering the game having scored at least one rushing touchdown in a national-best 67 of its 68 games since the start of the 2018 season.
• Clemson attempting to rush for a touchdown in a 26th consecutive game.
• Clemson attempting to rush for multiple touchdowns in five consecutive games for the first time since a 28- game streak across the 2018-20 seasons.
• Clemson, which completed 80 percent of its passes against North Carolina (its best in a game since 2018), attempting to post a completion percentage of 75.0 or better in consecutive games for the first time since a three-game streak in 2013 against Virginia, Georgia Tech and The Citadel.
• Clemson attempting to play consecutive games without a giveaway for the second time this season (at Wake Forest and vs. NC State).
• Clemson attempting to produce multiple takeaways in a fifth consecutive game for the first time since the final three games of the 2018 season and the first two games of the 2019 season.
• Clemson attempting to produce three or more takeaways in back-to-back games for the first time since 2020 against Pitt and Virginia Tech.
• Clemson attempting to win the turnover margin in consecutive games for the first time since October 2021 against Boston College and Syracuse.
• Clemson attempting to record at least four sacks in five consecutive games for the first time since a six-game streak across the final three games of 1990 and the first three games of 1991.
• Clemson attempting to score a defensive touchdown in three consecutive games for the first time since 1990 against NC State (Dexter Davis fumble return), Wake Forest (Arlington Nunn interception return) and North Carolina (Davis interception return).
• Clemson’s tight ends entering the game having recorded 60 catches for 670 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. The Clemson tight end group records in that category under Dabo Swinney are 65 receptions (2011), 797 yards (2016) and 10 touchdowns (2011, 2012 and 2022).
• Tight ends Davis Allen (five) and Jake Briningstool (four) entering the game with at least four touchdown catches each, making Clemson one of only five FBS programs (and one of only three Power Five teams) to have multiple tight ends with at least four touchdown catches this season.
• Allen (12) needing one touchdown reception to pass John McMakin (12 from 1969-71), Dwayne Allen (12 from 2009-11) and Brandon Ford (12 from 2009- 12) for sole possession of the second-most career touchdown receptions by a tight end in Clemson history.
• Allen (career-high 35) needing five more receptions to post the first 40-catch season by a Clemson tight end since 2016 (46, Jordan Leggett). Another touchdown reception, his sixth, would make him the first Clemson tight end with six or more touchdown catches in a season since Leggett in 2016 (seven).
• Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (8.0) needing two more sacks to join Myles Murphy (17.5), Xavier Thomas (14.5), Tyler Davis (14.5), K.J. Henry (13.5) and Trenton Simpson (12.5) to become Clemson’s sixth active player with at least 10 career sacks for the Tigers.
• Defensive tackle Tyler Davis (8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) entering the game within striking distance of his single-season career highs in tackles for loss (9.0 in 2019) and sacks (5.5 in 2019).
• Defensive end K.J. Henry (3.5 sacks this season, 13.5 sacks for his career) needing one sack to match his single-season career high (4.5 in 2021) and 1.5 sacks to reach 15 career sacks.
• Quarterback Cade Klubnik making his first career start.
• Klubnik becoming the first Clemson quarterback since the modernization of Clemson’s quarterback position in 1953 to make his first career start in a postseason game.
• Klubnik becoming only the eighth true freshman to start at quarterback for Clemson since the NCAA instituted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972, joining Steve Fuller (1975), Willie Jordan (1975), Patrick Sapp (1992), Nealon Greene (1994), Deshaun Watson (2014), Trevor Lawrence (2018) and DJ Uiagalelei (2020).
• Clemson attempting to improve to 21-14 in games started by true freshman quarterbacks since the NCAA instituted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972.
• Klubnik attempting to improve Clemson to 10-2 in first career starts by quarterbacks since 2002. It would make Clemson 28-18-1 in debut starts for its quarterbacks since 1953.
• Klubnik attempting to become the fifth straight Clemson starting quarterback to win his first start (Deshaun Watson in 2014, Kelly Bryant in 2017, Trevor Lawrence in 2018 and DJ Uiagalelei in 2020).
• Placekicker B.T. Potter (71) needing one field goal to tie or two field goals to pass Nelson Welch (72 from 1991-94) for the Clemson record for career field goals.
• Potter (18) sitting three field goals shy of his singleseason career high (21 in 2021).
• Potter appearing in his 69th career game to tie Clemson’s program record for career games played shared by James Skalski, Will Spiers and Will Swinney. Potter’s 68 career games are the most of any active player at any level of NCAA football.
• Potter making his 54th career start at placekicker to add to his Clemson position record set in the ACC Championship Game.
• Potter attempting to score in a 54th consecutive game to break the Clemson record set by Chandler Catanzaro (53) from 2010-13. Potter has scored in every game since earning the starting placekicking job prior to the 2019 season after serving as the team’s kickoff specialist in 2018.
• Potter attempting to add to his Clemson records for career field goals of 40 yards or more (33) and 50 yards or more (nine).
• Running back Will Shipley (career-high 1,110 rushing yards this season) needing 90 yards to produce the ninth 1,200-yard season in Clemson annals.
• Shipley (1,110) needing 77 rushing yards to enter the Top 10 in single-season rushing yardage in Clemson history.
• Shipley (1,848) needing 152 rushing yards to reach 2,000 for his career. He would be the 21st Clemson player to reach that mark.
• Shipley (15) needing one rushing touchdown to tie Travis Zachery (16 in 1999) for the sixth-most rushing touchdowns in a season in Clemson history. He is two rushing touchdowns shy of a three-way tie for third (17 each by Lester Brown in 1978, James Davis in 2006 and
  Wayne Gallman in 2016).
• Shipley (26) sitting one rushing touchdown shy of entering the Top 10 in school history in career rushing touchdowns. Cliff Austin and Woodrow Dantzler are currently tied for 10th with 27 each. He is also within reach of No. 9 Terry Allen (28 from 1978-82) and No. 8 Fred Cone (29 from 1948-50).
• Shipley attempting to rush for a touchdown in a seventh straight game to tie his career-long streak set across the 2021-22 seasons. He would tie himself, Kenny Flowers (seven consecutive games in 1985) and Travis Etienne (seven-game streaks in 2018 and 2020) for the sixth-longest streak of consecutive games with a rushing touchdown in Clemson history.
• Shipley (two) attempting to become the first Clemson player to record 200 all-purpose yards in three games in a single season since Sammy Watkins in 2011 (three).
• Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. attempting to record a sack in four consecutive games for the first time in his career.
• Trotter attempting to become the first Clemson player to post at least 2.0 sacks in three consecutive games since Keith Adams in 1999.
• Trotter attempting to become the first Clemson player on record with at least 3.0 sacks in back-to-back games.
• Cornerback Nate Wiggins (12) sitting one pass breakup shy of the Clemson sophomore record for pass breakups in a single season (13), shared by James Lott (1987) and Justin Miller (2003).
• Wide receiver Antonio Williams (four) attempting to become the first Clemson freshman to catch five touchdown passes in a season since Justyn Ross’ nine-touchdown debut campaign in 2018.

ORANGE BOWL HISTORY
This year’s Capital One Orange Bowl will represent
Clemson’s seventh all-time trip to the Orange Bowl. The
Tigers are 4-2 in the previous six appearances.
CLEMSON IN THE ORANGE BOWL (4-2)
Date Rank^ Opponent W/L CU-Opp
1/1/51 11/14 Miami (Fla.) W 15-14
1/1/57 19/20 Colorado L 21-27
1/1/82 1/4 Nebraska W 22-15
1/4/12 14/23 West Virginia L 33-70
1/3/14 12/7 Ohio State W 40-35
12/31/15 1/4 Oklahoma W 37-17
^AP Rank (CU/Opp)