Sagapolutele Gets Clemson Without Its Nickel

Dabo Swinney discovered California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele a year earlier than he would have preferred.

While studying Louisville film last season, Clemson’s coach noticed the freshman playing against the Cardinals. His reaction was essentially a note to his future self: this fellow could become a problem.

Friday night has arrived, and the problem now comes with 866 passing yards, seven touchdowns and a Clemson secondary missing starting nickel Corian Gipson.

That makes California’s passing game rather more relevant than Clemson’s traditional place in the football hierarchy.

Clemson Loses Gipson At An Awkward Time

Sagapolutele has completed 66.7% of his passes while averaging 288.7 yards through three games. Cal also ranks among the ACC’s most productive passing offenses, and 11 different Bears caught passes last weekend.

The distribution matters more than the opponent that produced it. Sagapolutele enters Friday with multiple places to send the football rather than one receiver Clemson can remove from the evening.

Swinney has called him an “NFL quarterback” with an elite arm. That admiration now becomes preparation.

Gipson is officially out after playing only two snaps against North Carolina. Clemson will also be without defensive tackle Devarrick Woods, who started last week.

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Reynolds Gets The Other Secondary Test

Clemson’s quarterback problem has changed considerably in one week. Freshman Tait Reynolds completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards in his first start against North Carolina. More importantly for Friday, Clemson kept him in long enough for the offense to recover after a difficult opening half.

California presents a different examination. The Bears have intercepted five passes and rank first in the ACC in passing-efficiency defense. Reynolds has thrown 62 collegiate passes. Friday supplies his first road start and a 7:30 p.m. Berkeley crowd.

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Cal’s Front Could Lose Its Edge

California has its own availability problem. Starting defensive end Nate Burrell is listed as doubtful. That designation matters against a Clemson offense still figuring out how much of the playbook Reynolds can run, especially if the Tigers find cleaner early-down rushing opportunities.

Cal’s defense has allowed opponents to score on only two-thirds of their red-zone possessions. Clemson has already leaned heavily on kicker Nolan Hauser when drives have stalled.

That combination helps explain a total sitting at 50.5 rather than following Sagapolutele’s passing numbers upward.

Bookmaker Sportsbook opening line: Clemson -1 at -108, with California +1 at -108. Clemson is -113 on the moneyline, and Cal is -103. Over 50.5 is -112, with under 50.5 at -104.

One point effectively asks which quarterback carries the more uncomfortable problem. Reynolds gets his first road start against a defense already producing interceptions. Sagapolutele gets Clemson without its starting nickel.

I’ll take the quarterback Swinney started worrying about a year ago.

Prediction: California 27, Clemson 24.

Betting Lean: California +1 (-108).

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