Clemson 2022 or USC 2017?

[Rudy89]

We are all buzzing after a big blowout win at home from yesterday. Five years ago we had a very similar feeling when we dominated USC at home to end their playoff hopes. My question I wanted to ask is which win did you enjoy more? Beating Clemson last night or beating USC? For me as big as this Clemson win was and what it may mean for us going forward…I hate USC & destroying them in 2017 will always be a happy moment for me. What day the rest of IE?

 

[Riddickulous]

Easily this one especially after the season we've had to this point.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Both!!

 

[greyhammer90]

Breaking the streak against USC in Kelly's first year meant more to me than 2017. I'll still take this game though. We absolutely trounced a top 5 team.

 

[stlnd01]

Was at that 2017 USC game and it was pretty great. Also, in retrospect, it was the game that basically kicked off the five-year run of 2017-2021. That was the night you felt like we had arrived.
But, at least this morning, after the season we've had, this one is better. If we somehow lose to Navy or BC I might change my mind. But not right now.

 

[ACamp1900]

Breaking the streak against USC in Kelly's first year meant more to me than 2017. I'll still take this game though. We absolutely trounced a top 5 team.

This one

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

This one and it is not even close.

 

[FOTY977]

I think this game is overall more important.

Was at USC17, watched from home last night. USC ‘17 was massively cathartic and fun for many reasons, but it’s not like it was peak powerhouse USC. It felt more personal than anything.

I can’t stand Dabo, but I don’t have the same hatred for Clemson. I think Clemson ‘22 will be to us what Clemson ‘15 was to them—the springboard to our next step after years of ND taking over the mantle of “Clemsoning”.

Both games awesome, but I think this one will go down as the most important/biggest win since the 90s. Or maybe even 80s if MF actually leads them to post-season success.

 

[notredomer23]

This one. 8-4 or 9-3 with losses to OSU, Clemson, and USC would have been more of the same of the last five years. Sucks to have blown the Stanford and Marshall games, but this big win at least proves Freeman can win the big one. He’ll figure out the ones he’s supposed to win quickly. Take care of business the next two weeks and I will be thrilled with what he has accomplished given the first two weeks.

2017 USC was awesome and I was there. Crowd was electric. But was just another big win on a stretch of domination from the UGA game to the Miami game that year.

 

[IrishLax]

Freeman I think is 4-2 vs ranked teams at this point with his two losses being the the Fiesta Bowl which sorta doesn’t count and then Ohio State on the road.

USC is going to be a really hard game because of how they run their offense but if he finds a way to finish the year 5-1 vs ranked teams that’ll be crazy considering the hand he’s been dealt with Pyne and the overall difficulty of schedule this year.

 

[Henges24]

Clemson

 

[Irish du Nord]

I think this game is overall more important.

Was at USC17, watched from home last night. USC ‘17 was massively cathartic and fun for many reasons, but it’s not like it was peak powerhouse USC. It felt more personal than anything.

I can’t stand Dabo, but I don’t have the same hatred for Clemson. I think Clemson ‘22 will be to us what Clemson ‘15 was to them—the springboard to our next step after years of ND taking over the mantle of “Clemsoning”.

Both games awesome, but I think this one will go down as the most important/biggest win since the 90s. Or maybe even 80s if MF actually leads them to post-season success.

At the time, USC was the No.11 team in the country though, to be fair. I'm still going with last night, hopefully it sparks a run for us just like that game did in '17

 

[phillyirish]

To me, Oklahoma during the BCS run and #1 Clemson were the biggest. This game was very fun though, and felt like that Oklahoma game in which we just dominated relatively stress free.

#1 Clemson was a better game but a lot more nerve racking.

 

[FOTY977]

At the time, USC was the No.11 team in the country though, to be fair. I'm still going with last night, hopefully it sparks a run for us just like that game did in '17

Not taking anything away from that game. It was awesome, and being close to top 10 match up made it great. It’s fun arguing over which great win is greater.

 

[ACamp1900]

To me, Oklahoma during the BCS run and #1 Clemson were the biggest. This game was very fun though, and felt like that Oklahoma game in which we just dominated relatively stress free.

#1 Clemson was a better game but a lot more nerve racking.

Yeah if I’m totally honest,… last night never got full meter for me. Every time a big play was made I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, ‘of course they do this now after the season is already shot’. I couldn’t get Stanford and Marshall off my mind.

It’s still a huge win and could be a sign of things to come but yeah. Some of those other wins had more on the line in the moment I guess is my point.

 

[phillyirish]

Yeah if I’m totally honest,… last night never got full meter for me. Every time a big play was made I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, ‘if course they do this now after the season is already shot’. I couldn’t get Stanford and Marshall off my mind.

It’s still a huge win and could be a sign of things to come but yeah. Some of those other wins had more on the line in the moment I guess is my point.

Yea I think people are just trying to project at as better than anything from the Kelly era, which is fine to do. But realistically it’s a hard argument. Don’t get me wrong, top 5 blow out win is always gonna look great on the record books when looking back, but this Clemson team isn’t very good. Only reason they’re 5th is because that’s where they started in the preseason polls.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Hopefully Clemson wins out and finishes as a top 10 team b/c they got exposed last night. I think UNC beats them in the ACC CG.

As of today, last night’s win trumps the blowout win over ND’s biggest rival in 2017. ND was a home dog last night whereas they were favored to beat SC. The last time an unranked Irish knocked off at top 5 team was 1981 when a Gerry Faust-led Irish knocked off #1 Pitt led by Dan Marino. That says it all as far as I’m concorned.

 

[NorthDakota]

This win slapped harder because Clemson is much more accomplished than SC.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

This felt better than any Kelly win outside of the Michigan shutout. Last night felt big. Just about everyone doubted that ND could win let alone bust Clemson's ass in all phases. They did it with a handful of scholarship receivers and a backup QB.

They absolutely need to sustain the win with two more. Then go out to LA and ball out.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I know this is a debate over emotional/satisfying victories, but here’s a mind blowing fact:


Looking at strictly end of season rankings, BK’s
biggest victories at ND:

1. 2013 Michigan State #3

2. 2020 Clemson #3

3. 2012 Stanford #6


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Crazy Balki]

Clemson may not be as good as advertised, but so was USC in '17. The difference is that, despite playing nobody up to that point, USC already had a loss to Washington State.

Clemson made it's way through the maligned ACC unscathed to this point, whereas USC failed to do the same in an arguably worse Pac-12 slate.

I think the other thing that puts this game over the top is that this game is one to build off. Nobody was truly buying Darnold and Helton, and they were still outside the top 10 when ND de-cleated them. Clemson was one of the teams that ND had to strive to beat in order to reach the next level.

And up to this point, ND had gone 2-22 in the past 24 matchups against top 5 opponents. Those wins were against Michigan (who finished 7-5) and Clemson without their starting QB, who then proceeded to whoop us in the ACCCG. This game will most likely stand on it's own as a significant blowout victory over a top opponent, maybe not a playoff caliber one, but certainly one of the better programs in CFB.

It was also huge for building credibility for Marcus Freeman, who needed every bit of it.

 

[thekid33]

Last night.

I hate U$C, but I think last night was bigger for the program.

 

[luckofirish8]

I was at the 2017 destruction of USC and I specifically choose that game as the time I went to see that rivalry in South Bend, but I'd had never felt more confident in a beat down from the Irish over USC. For that reason alone, I would say last night was sweeter. I thought they had a punchers chance and that Clemson was likely a bit over-rated, but there was nothing "punchers chance" about last night. It was obvious to anyone watching and Dabo said it himself...that was an ass-whooping.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I know this is a debate over emotional/satisfying victories, but here’s a mind blowing fact:


Looking at strictly end of season rankings, BK’s
biggest victories at ND:

1. 2013 Michigan State #3

2. 2020 Clemson #3

3. 2012 Stanford #6


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This goes back to the time-tested debate of defining ranked wins. Were they ranked at the time of the contest or did they finish the season ranked? I suspect the majority, if not all ND fans; suspected Clemson was overrated yet still better than last season’s 10-3 squad. I know I didn’t give ND much of a chance b/c they would be rendered one-dimensional & Clemson would shut down the run. It wasn’t hyperbole, just what I‘ve come to witness over time. I was wrong.

It’s safe to say that Clemson won’t end the season as a top 5 team but they should still be ranked. They have Louisville, Miami & USCe to finish their season. None of those are gimmees at this point.

Here’s what I’m rooting for: Clemson & UNC win out to both finish undefeated in ACC play and then meet in the ACC Championship Game. Too good to be true but should be fun to watch.

 

[BeatSC]

I’m going with USC as I live in SoCal around them. It was just too sweet and at night. Great night game. USC and Sam Darnold easily destroyed us the previous season so revenge was on the menu. Was nice to see Wimbush play a complete game and Lenzy got our hopes up with the 75 yard jet sweep leaving USC in the dust.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I was at both games and not to take anything away from curb stomping USC in ‘17, but last night was different. The energy was insane. Plus my old ass didn’t get to run on the field in ‘17. I go with Clemson.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Did you see our QB last night? Guy is objectively terrible at throwing the ball, and can’t hit the broadside of a barn unless he’s rolling out and zipping a Christmas miracle. But the dude had absolute brass stones. It wasn’t just our badass backs blasting the rock time after time. It was David Pyne versus Goliath DL prospects crossing the endzone. Quite simply, the OL was an extension of God last night, and Heistand was Joseph. And the defense? Clemson’s flood with no ark. ND got me all religious again last night.

 

[BeatSC]

USC all the way! Everyone of our wins!

 

[NorthDakota]

My law school roommate in NY is a tech guy from USC. Awesome dude. Anyway, he texted me, "I'm nervous for the ND game." Loved to see it