USA Today bowl projections are out: Who is Clemson expected to face?

Clemson is only halfway to bowl eligibility, but USA TODAY already has an early answer for where the Tigers could spend late December.

USA TODAY’s latest bowl projections have Clemson facing Mississippi State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The game is scheduled for Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. inside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Tigers are 3–2 with victories over Georgia Southern, North Carolina, and California. Their two losses have been blowouts, falling 51–10 at LSU before losing 41–13 at home against Miami.

Clemson is 2–1 in ACC play with seven regular-season games remaining. The Tigers return Saturday against Charleston Southern before hosting Virginia Tech for homecoming in a confirmed night game.

Game week is here 🐅 pic.twitter.com/gSI7J1ZzKu

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) October 12, 2026

Mississippi State would give Clemson an SEC opponent with a better record. The Bulldogs started 4–0 with victories over Louisiana-Monroe, Minnesota, South Carolina and Missouri. Their unbeaten start ended with a 56–23 loss to Alabama on Oct. 3. Mississippi State returns from its open week Saturday at LSU.

The Bulldogs also played in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last season, losing 43–29 to Wake Forest. USA TODAY’s projection would send Mississippi State back to the same bowl in consecutive seasons.

Mississippi State is led by sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor, who already has history in this bowl. Taylor passed for 241 yards and ran for 63 more with two total touchdowns against Wake Forest in last season’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl before suffering an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter. He has since taken over as the Bulldogs’ full-time starter, completing 102 of 154 passes for 1,450 yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions through five games. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback would give Clemson’s defense a difficult dual-threat assignment if the projection becomes reality.

Clemson and Mississippi State have only played three times, with the series tied 1–1–1. Clemson won the first meeting 21–7 in 1948 before the teams tied 7–7 one year later. Mississippi State won their most recent matchup 17–7 in the 1999 Peach Bowl.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: USA Today bowl projections are out: Who is Clemson expected to face?