Stanford (2-1, 1-0 ACC) is set to face off against No. 17 Clemson (2-1, 1-0) in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET with ESPN broadcasting the game. Clemson is favored to win by 21 1/2 points according to BetMGM College Football Odds and holds a 1-0 lead in the series against Stanford.

Both teams aim to maintain their undefeated records in the ACC as they clash on the field. Stanford, coming off a victory against Syracuse last week, faces the challenge of playing back-to-back league games on the road. Meanwhile, Clemson has displayed a dominant offense, scoring 125 points in their recent wins over Appalachian State and N.C. State.

A key matchup to watch will be Stanford’s defense against Clemson’s quarterback, Cade Klubnik. Stanford’s defense showed strength with two interceptions against Syracuse, including a 71-yard pick-six by Mitch Leigber. On the other side, Klubnik has been outstanding in the past two games, contributing to eight passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in the Tigers’ recent blowout victories.

Players to keep an eye on during the game include linebacker David Bailey from Stanford, who had an impressive performance against Syracuse with two sacks, four tackles, and a forced fumble. Clemson’s running back, Phil Mafah, has also been in the spotlight with consecutive games of 100 or more rushing yards and scoring long touchdown runs in the team’s recent wins.

In historical context, Stanford and Clemson have only faced each other once, with Clemson emerging victorious in the 1986 Gator Bowl. Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney, has the opportunity to tie the late Bobby Bowden for the most wins by a coach at an ACC school with 173 victories. Stanford is playing their second of four Eastern time zone games this season, with matchups against Notre Dame and N.C. State still to come.

Furthermore, Stanford quarterback Klubnik’s 55-yard touchdown run against N.C. State marked a significant moment, reminiscent of Trevor Lawrence’s 67-yard score in 2019. Stanford made history by becoming one of the three ACC teams to win their first-ever conference game on the road, a feat previously achieved by Duke and Maryland in 1953. Stanford’s Ismael Cisse has stood out with 19 receptions, the most by a freshman receiver in the country this season.

The game between Stanford and Clemson promises to be an exciting showdown with both teams aiming to solidify their positions in the ACC standings. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN as these two formidable teams battle it out on the gridiron.