SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The last time No. 4 Clemson played at Notre Dame it did not seem like Notre Dame.

Though the game was a classic, a 47-40 double overtime win for the Irish, only 11,000 people were able to watch the game in person because of the globe pandemic.

“We were thankful to be able to play, but also, at the same time, it was kind of disappointing, especially when you have this vision and you go up there and it is what it is at that time,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said earlier this week.

That will not be the case tonight. When the Tigers and Irish kick off, nearly 78,000 fans will be inside Notre Dame Stadium. At least 20,000 of those fans are expected to be wearing orange.

“It is exciting to be able to see Notre Dame at its best,” Swinney said. “I know that is what we will get. We will get the best they got, and we look forward to competing against them.”

Here are a few things you need to know about today’s game:

Opponent: Notre Dame (5-3)

Where: Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, Ind.

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Television: NBC

Latest Line: Clemson minus-3.5

All-Time Series: Clemson leads 4-2

Games at Clemson: Tied, 1-1

Games at Notre Dame: Tied, 1-1

Neutral Site: Clemson leads, 2-0

Last Meeting: Clemson won 34-10, in 2020 ACC Championship Game

Streak: Clemson, One

What to Watch for This Week:

  • Clemson has supplemented its historic home streak with the nation’s best road record since 2015.
  • Clemson’s 34-4 road record in that span gives the Tigers a national-best .895 road winning percentage, and Clemson’s 34 road wins since 2015 are three more than any other FBS program and five more than any other Power Five program.
  • With a win, Clemson would record a perfect record in true road games in a season for the 10th time in school history, joining the 1900, 1917, 1948, 1981, 1995, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 seasons.
  • Clemson currently owns the nation’s longest active win streak at 14 games, a win tonight will allow the Tigers to tie their third longest win streak in school history of 15 games, which the teams from 1947-’49 did.
  • Clemson attempting to open a season 9-0 for the seventh time in program history (1948, 1981, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019). Each of the previous six teams won a conference title, and five of the six played for the national championship (1981, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019).
  • Since 2011, Clemson is 41-4 when facing a new head coach. Marcus Freeman is in his first year at Notre Dame.
  • Clemson attempting to improve to 44-19 in games following regular season open weeks since 1953. Clemson would improve to 17-2 in such games under Dabo Swinney.
  • Clemson attempting to earn its 100th victory against Power Five opponents since 2013. Clemson’s 99 victories in that span against Power Five teams are the most in the country.
  • Clemson attempting to even its all-time record on NBC at 4-4.
  • Head Coach Dabo Swinney attempting to improve to 27-12 against the only 17 programs in college football history to win 765 or more games all-time, including Ohio State (3-1), Alabama (2-2), Notre Dame (3-1), Oklahoma (2-0), Nebraska (0-1), Georgia (1-2), LSU (1-1), Auburn (4-1), West Virginia (0-1), Texas A&M (2- 0), Virginia Tech (6-0) and Pitt (2-2).
  • Clemson quarterback Uiagalelei returning to the stadium in which he passed for 439 yards against Notre Dame in 2020, the most by any opponent in Irish history.
  • Only five current FBS schools have played Notre Dame at least five times and have a winning record against the Irish. At 4-2 against Notre Dame all-time, Clemson stands with Florida State (6-5), Michigan (25-17-1), Nebraska (8-7-1) and Ohio State (5-2) in that category.
  • Clemson has ranked in the top 15 in the nation heading into the Notre Dame game in every meeting, including a No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup in the 2018 Cotton Bowl that was the first meeting of undefeated teams in College Football Playoff history and a No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup in 2020 that was the highest-ranked matchup of ACC teams in conference history.
  • Clemson is 11-3-2 all-time in games played on Nov. 5, including wins in its last five games on Nov. 5, dating to 1983.

Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story