CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – The way Clemson coach Dabo Swinney sees it, the pressure is the same as it’s been all season.
No. 3 Clemson plays No. 19 Virginia Tech on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, with the Tigers looking for their second straight league title.
A victory most likely would return the Tigers (11-1; No. 4 College Football Playoff) to the playoffs. But the demands to play like winners, Swinney said, are always there.
“It was at stake at Auburn, it was at stake versus Troy, it was at stake at Georgia Tech,” he said. Tuesday. “It’s at stake every single week if you’re worried about all this stuff.”
He understands that beating the Hokies (9-3) puts the Tigers in line for the national title. The greater concern is the weekly challenge of preparation.