Nobody expected the Clemson Tigers be in the position they are in now after the 9-4 season they had last year and the first week failure against the Georgia Bulldogs this year.

Nine weeks later, the Tigers have played to a 6-1 record overall with a 5-0 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference and haven’t looked back.

It’s been a non-stop challenge of destruction and dominance for Clemson since week one, with its six wins featuring an average margin of victory of 27.3 points, thanks to a powerful offensive attack led by superstar junior quarterback Cade Klubnik and a stifling defense led by star senior linebacker Barret Carter.

Even with their steady streak of success, there are still many who do not believe in the Tigers, claiming that their schedule has been weak and that they cannot compete against tougher competition.

That feeling could come to an end Saturday, when Clemson hosts the Louisville Cardinalsa team that should not be overlooked due to its 5-3 record, as all three of its losses came against ranked teams, and all by exactly seven points.

This could prove to be the toughest competition for the Tigers since week one, with Justin Williams of The Athletic even projecting the game to be the fifth best of the weekend.

“Clemson has a tough schedule the rest of the way, including a Cardinals team with a trio of one-score losses against Notre Dame, SMU and Miami,” Williams writes, “Louisville’s offense under quarterback Tyler Shough is not too far from Clemson.”

Louisville has shown that they can remain competitive in games when many consider them to be outmatched by a wide margin.

Tyler Shough, a junior on his third team, has thrown for 2,348 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions on 175 of 272 passing, a completion percentage of 64.3.

Clemson’s defense will need to work its way through the Cardinals’ offensive line and get to Shough early and often to announce its presence, and keep Death Valley rocking for all four quarters.

Saturday could be a turning point for the Tigers, win or lose, with the team finally showing the skeptics whether they are right or wrong.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s sure to be one of the most exciting matchups this week, and Death Valley at Night could play a big role in the outcome of the game.