Dabo Swinney jokes about NC State game's TV designation, kickoff time

Clemson is used to playing in primetime under Dabo Swinney as the Tigers have had one of the best programs in the country for the past 10-plus years.

However, after getting off to a 2-3 start in ACC play this season, Clemson certainly isn’t receiving coveted TV slots in 2023.

This weekend’s game against NC State will be played on the CW — a new partner for the ACC for this season.

Dabo Swinney was asked on Tuesday during his press conference if he has had any experience with the CW in the past.

“I have no idea what it is. I don’t even know where it’s at. Where do I go to it?” Swinney asked reporters.

Swinney, who said he doesn’t watch much TV outside of sports, was eventually told that the CW is channel 62 on DirecTV, which is what Swinney uses for TV service.

In addition to the game being on a channel that isn’t known for sports, it will also kick off at an unusual time for a football game. Clemson and NC State are set to face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s a 2 o’clock game, too. That’s kind of different,” Swinney said.

Clemson has a schedule for each weekend, based on its game time. Swinney isn’t used to putting one together for a 2 p.m. game.

“I’ve done a gazillion schedules and itineraries. You’ve got all these routines – 8:05, 3:30, 3 o’clock, Noon. I’ve done them all. I mean we’ve had some crazy times. But 2’s a little different. Your breakfast, your pregame meal – just a different routine,” Swinney said. “I kind of like it, though, honestly.”

Clemson should be able to get home at a decent hour following Saturday’s game. That certainly wasn’t the case this past weekend as the Tigers game at Miami didn’t kick off until after 8 p.m.

“I got back about 6 a.m. [Sunday]. The Sunday’s still the same day, whether you get in at 6 a.m. or you go to bed at 11 o’clock the night before,” Swinney said. “It’s the same day for us. We should get home, Lord willing, earlier than that. So that’s a positive.”

Clemson needs to find a way to win on Saturday against the Wolfpack after dropping a heartbreaker to the Hurricanes over the weekend.

The Tigers led by 10 points in the fourth quarter but faltered down the stretch and eventually lost in overtime.