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The Citadel won’t play any games in the Southern Conference this fall after the league suspended fall sports due to concerns with the coronavirus pandemic, but the Bulldogs’ football team will play at least one non-conference contest in September.
Mike Capaccio, the athletic director of the Military College of South Carolina, told the Charleston Post & Courier on Wednesday that the Bulldogs game at Clemson is “definitely a go” for Sept. 19.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for our football team to compete with a program at Clemson’s level,” Capaccio told the P&C.
NEW: Source tells me The Citadel is planning to play Clemson in football this fall despite the SoCon season being postponed until the spring. One of a handful of games for the Bulldogs this fall. @abc_columbia
— Mike Gillespie (@MikeABCColumbia) August 14, 2020
The Citadel was originally supposed to play Clemson on Nov. 14, but that changed when the ACC changed up its schedule. And the Citadel was supposed to have a game vs. the College of Charleston on Sept. 19 — Clemson’s lone open date — but that was scrapped when the school canceled its fall sports season.
Clemson is 32-5-1 all-time vs. the Citadel, last beating the Bulldogs down 61-3 in 2017.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said isn't sure but expects The Citadel to be the Tigers' non-conference opponent. The SoCon has canceled its season but is allowing teams to play up to four non-league games. Dabo: "Unless The Citadel cancels, I guess that's who it's going to be."
— Todd Shanesy (@ToddShanesySHJ) August 18, 2020
According Jeff Hartsell of the P&C, the Citadel will receive a guarantee payout of $450,000 for playing the Tigers.
Capaccio also told the P&C that the Citadel is pursuing other games this fall. The SoCon is allowing its members to play up to four non-conference games. However, all FCS leagues have suspended play and just over a dozen schools at that level are pursuing games this fall. Finding opponents could be difficult.
Army and Pitt are among some of the FBS teams that still have open dates, if the Bulldogs want to travel to West Point or Pittsburgh.