Tale of the Tape: No. 22 Virginia vs. No. 3 Clemson
Posted on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, 2:08 pm
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Coastal Division champion Virginia goes up against Atlantic Division winner and defending national champion Clemson in tonight’s ACC Championship Game from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (7:30, ABC).
The 22nd-ranked Cavaliers (9-3, 6-2 ACC) will be competing for their first outright conference title, while the third-ranked, undefeated Tigers (12-0, 8-0) will be looking for the program’s 19th ACC crown, and fifth in a row.
UVA was co-champion of the league twice, sharing the trophy with Duke in 1989 and Florida State in 1995.
Clemson defeated the Cavaliers in each of the first 29 meetings between the schools dating back to 1955 before the ‘Hoos finally prevailed, 20-7, in 1990. In the 17 meetings since, Virginia has gone 7-9-1 against the Tigers.
The teams haven’t squared off since 2013, and only three times since the ACC split into divisions in 2005. This will be the first meeting between the two teams on a neutral field since 1971, when the game was played in Richmond.
Virginia gets a Friday afternoon walkthrough at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium in advance of tomorrow night’s ACC Football Championship. 🏈🏈🏈🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/QV58YAm722
— Jerry Ratcliffe (@JerryRatcliffe) December 6, 2019
Dabo Swinney’s 2019 team is explosive on offense, with a defense — led by ACC Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Simmons — that’s not allowing their opponents much of anything this season, giving up only 10 points and just over 230 yards per game.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (2,870 yards, 30 touchdowns) and running back Travis Etienne (1,386 yards, 16 touchdowns), the conference’s overall and offensive Player of the Year, lead this high-powered Clemson offense.
Etienne, who outlasted UVA senior quarterback Bryce Perkins for both of those honors, has scored more career points (342) than any other non-kicker in league history. The Tigers are a four-touchdown favorite against the Wahoos tonight.
Photo by Nell Redmond, ACC
Virginia needs to keep it close in the early going or else it could be a long night for Bronco Mendenhall’s bunch, which has won four straight games and has been putting up some impressive numbers as well during the win streak.
Perkins has saved his best for last, and has been on a tear dating back to the start of November — he’s thrown for 1,146 yards (92 for 137, 67 percent) and seven touchdowns while rushing for 412 yards and six more scores in the Cavaliers’ last four contests.
The ‘Hoos have been solid defensively as well, despite losing several key members of the secondary over the course of the campaign. The unit will give it everything they’ve got tonight behind tackle Eli Hanback and linebackers Jordan Mack and Charles Snowden, against an offense that averages 541.8 yards and 45.2 points a game and is known for jumping out to quick leads.
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, Virginia will learn its bowl destination on Sunday, as many insiders believe the ‘Hoos are a lock for their first-ever Orange Bowl appearance to wrap up the memorable 2019 season.
Tale of the Tape
The Coaches
UVA — Bronco Mendenhall
4th season at Virginia (25-25); 15th season overall (124-68); Record vs. CU: 0-0
CU — Dabo Swinney
12th season at CU and overall (128-30); Record vs. UVA: 3-0
The Depth Chart
Click to enlarge
Broadcast Information
TV: ABC
Announcers: Steve Levy (play-by-play), Brian Griese (analyst), Todd McShay (field analyst), Maria Taylor (sideline)
Radio: Virginia Sports Network
Announcers: Dave Koehn (play-by-play), Tony Covington (analyst), Jay James (sideline)
Radio: ESPN Radio
Announcers: Sean Kelley (play-by-play), Barrett Jones (analyst), Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline)
Satellite Radio:
Sirius Channel — 108
XM Channel — 193
Internet Channel — 955
Kickoff Forecast
Mostly Clear, 47 degrees
Precipitation — 0%
Wind — 6 mph
Humidity — 66%
(Courtesy AccuWeather)
