Week 4 of Atlantic Coast Conference football kicks off with a primetime matchup as Clemson travels west to face California in Berkeley, according to the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, marking the first of four conference contests on the Week 4 slate and opening a coast-to-coast weekend of ACC football.
Clemson and California Meet in Historic Friday Night ACC Clash
The matchup is only the second all-time meeting between the two programs and their first regular-season encounter according to the Atlantic Coast Conference. California won the only previous meeting, 37-13, in the 1992 Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Friday’s contest marks Clemson’s first-ever visit to California Memorial Stadium and the Tigers’ first conference game on the West Coast in program history, a milestone preceded by only three prior games played by Clemson in the state of California.
Entering Momentum and Recent Streaks
Both teams enter the contest on two-game winning streaks noted by the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson opened its ACC schedule last week with a 28-20 victory over North Carolina, overcoming a 14-3 first-quarter deficit—its largest first-quarter deficit overcome in a home victory since rallying from 14-0 down to defeat Auburn in 2011.
California plays its first ACC home game of the season following an opening conference win, defeating Syracuse 21-18 on the road in Week 2, followed by a 49-7 victory over Wagner last weekend. During the win against Wagner, the Golden Bears scored 29 first-quarter points and generated 626 yards of total offense.
Player Milestones and Statistical Leaders
Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds is just the eighth true freshman to start at quarterback for the Tigers since the NCAA instituted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972, joining Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, and DJ Uiagalelei as the only Clemson true freshman signal-callers to win their starting debuts reported the Atlantic Coast Conference. Defensively for the Tigers, linebacker Will Heldt has recorded multiple sacks in back-to-back games, with his 4.0 sacks this season ranking second in the ACC and tied for third nationally. Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore has recorded a reception in 30 consecutive games, which is tied for the fifth-longest active streak nationally.
For California, quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for a career-high 413 yards against Wagner by completing 27-of-33 passes with three touchdowns. The Golden Bears average 321.7 passing yards per game, ranking fourth in the conference and inside the top 15 nationally. Cal safety Kingston Lopa leads the nation with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
Betting Outlook and Odds
Ahead of kickoff, point spreads list Clemson as a 1.5-point favorite on the road against California according to CBS Sports. Betting analysts have also examined the total points line, noting struggles in offensive efficiency. Clemson ranks 111th nationally in yards per play with an average of 4.5 yards per snap, while California ranks 120th at 4.4 yards per play reported Sports Illustrated.
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