Clemson Will Host Charleston Southern on October 18
The Tigers are scheduled to face the Buccaneers at Memorial Stadium this Saturday.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Football
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Clemson prepares to host Charleston Southern for a football matchup on October 18, 2026. The university will pay a $450,000 guarantee for the visiting team to play at Memorial Stadium.
Why it matters
This game serves as a non-conference matchup for the Tigers, continuing the long-standing tradition of scheduling local opponents for home games. The event also provides a significant financial guarantee to the Charleston Southern athletics program.
Clemson holds a 40-0 record against FCS teams since 1978, while Charleston Southern remains 0-29 against FBS opponents since 2002. The agreement includes 500 free tickets and specific parking accommodations for the visitors.
The players
Clemson
This university operates a major college football program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Charleston Southern
This institution maintains a university athletics program that competes as a member of the Big South Conference.
The details
Clemson and Charleston Southern finalized the game arrangement through a contract signed in 2017 and later amended in 2022. The visiting team is authorized to conduct a walkthrough at Memorial Stadium on October 17, 2026, ahead of the Saturday kickoff.
Timeline
The game contract was originally signed in 2017.
The agreement underwent an amendment in 2022.
Charleston Southern will conduct a stadium walkthrough on October 17, 2026.
The game is scheduled for kickoff on October 18, 2026.
Clemson must complete the $450,000 guarantee payment by February 15, 2027.
Season Trajectory
This game fits into the broader NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision scheduling model, where high-resource programs compensate smaller schools for non-conference play. The result of this matchup is expected to reinforce Clemson's historical dominance over non-FBS opponents.
Major sportsbooks are not offering a betting line for this matchup given the historical disparity between the two programs. Fans should note the expected 99% win probability for the home team as the Tigers aim to maintain their undefeated record against FCS opponents.
The takeaway
Large universities commonly use these guarantee games to support smaller athletic departments while hosting additional home contests. Attendees should prepare for standard gameday logistics as the Tigers host this non-conference opponent.
What happens next
Clemson must finalize the $450,000 guarantee payment to Charleston Southern by February 15, 2027.
Further reading
For more analysis on the team's upcoming schedule, visit Football.
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