If you’re looking for the Clemson Citadel game time right now, you might notice something a little weird. Or, more accurately, you might notice a big, empty space on the 2026 calendar where a low-country showdown usually sits.
That is because Clemson and The Citadel aren't actually scheduled to play each other this season.
It’s a bit of a trip for fans who are used to that late-November tradition. Usually, this matchup serves as the "Military Appreciation Day" or a final tune-up before the chaos of the Palmetto Bowl against South Carolina. But for the 2026 campaign, the Tigers have filled their non-conference slate with a different mix of opponents.
Honestly, it’s all about the shifting landscape of ACC scheduling and how Dabo Swinney handles the "cupcake" games (though Citadel fans would definitely take offense to that term).
The 2026 Clemson Non-Conference Situation
Clemson’s 2026 schedule is already looking like a monster. Instead of the Bulldogs from Charleston, the Tigers are heading down to Death Valley... the other one. They open the season at LSU. That’s a massive road trip that basically eats up the "big game" slot in their non-conference planning.
Aside from the trip to Baton Rouge, the 2026 non-conference slate includes:
- Georgia Southern
- Charleston Southern
- South Carolina (The season finale, obviously)
Since they already have Charleston Southern on the books for 2026, there isn't room for another Southern Conference or FCS opponent like The Citadel. The Tigers generally stick to one FCS opponent per year to keep their strength of schedule high enough for the College Football Playoff committee to take them seriously.
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When do they actually play again?
If you're a season ticket holder or a cadet looking to make the trip to Memorial Stadium, you're going to have to wait a couple of years. According to current future game contracts, The Citadel is scheduled to return to Clemson in 2028.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 18, 2028.
That game will likely follow the standard "buy game" format where Clemson pays a significant guarantee—often upwards of $450,000 to $500,000—to bring the Bulldogs to town. It’s a win-win: The Citadel gets a massive payday to fund their athletic department, and Clemson gets a home game that lets them rest their starters by the fourth quarter.
Looking back at the 2024 beatdown
The last time these two met was November 23, 2024. If you missed that one, it went pretty much how everyone expected. Clemson walked away with a 51-14 victory.
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The Clemson Citadel game time for that 2024 matchup was 3:30 p.m. ET. It aired on The CW, which was a bit of a change for fans used to seeing every Clemson game on ABC or the ACC Network. That game was significant because it was Military Appreciation Day. Clemson has this incredible tradition where they recognize the school's own military heritage, and having a senior military college like The Citadel on the opposite sideline makes the whole vibe feel right.
Why "Game Time" is always a mystery until the last minute
People get frustrated that they can't find kickoff times months in advance. I get it. You’re trying to plan a tailgate or book a hotel in Easley or Anderson, and "TBA" doesn't help.
Basically, the TV networks (ESPN, ABC, and now The CW) hold all the power. They use a "6-day or 12-day window" to pick which games go in which slots. For a game like Clemson vs. The Citadel, you are almost always looking at one of two slots:
- The Noon Kick: The "get it over with" slot. It’s great for families but sucks for tailgating.
- The 3:30 p.m. Slot: The sweet spot. This is usually where the ACC Network or a secondary partner puts these types of games.
You will almost never see Clemson play an FCS school at night. Dabo likes his players to have a normal Saturday night after these games, and the networks prefer to save the prime-time 7:30 p.m. slots for ranked-on-ranked matchups.
What to do if you're looking for a game this weekend
Since the Clemson Citadel game time isn't happening this year, you’ve got options. If you want that military atmosphere, you should check out The Citadel's actual 2026 schedule. They’ve got some gritty matchups in the SoCon, including games against Wofford and Furman that are usually absolute dogfights.
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If you are a Clemson fan, your eyes are likely glued to the ACC standings. The Tigers are navigating a 17-team conference now, which is just weird to say out loud. With Stanford and Cal in the mix, the travel schedule is a mess, and the non-conference games like the one against The Citadel are becoming rarer as the conference considers moving to a 9-game league schedule.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you were hoping to catch this specific matchup, here is what you need to do to stay ahead of the curve for the next one:
- Check the 2028 Schedule Early: Since the next meeting is in 2028, don't expect a kickoff time until November of that year.
- Monitor the 12-Day Window: For any Clemson home game, the official time is usually released on a Monday, twelve days before the Saturday kickoff.
- Don't Buy "Placeholder" Tickets: Some secondary market sites list "Clemson vs. The Citadel 2026" tickets. These are fake. They don't play this year. Always check the official Clemson Tigers Website before giving your credit card info to a random ticket site.
- Plan for Military Appreciation: If you specifically want to see the paratroopers and the purple jerseys (Clemson's military tribute color), look for the designated Military Appreciation Day on the 2026 schedule—it's likely going to be the Charleston Southern game.
The days of assuming Clemson plays The Citadel every other year are kinda over. Between conference realignment and the expanded 12-team (and soon to be 14-team) playoff, every single game slot is being guarded like gold. For now, enjoy the high-stakes games against LSU and the ACC rivals, and keep that 2028 date in the back of your mind for the Bulldogs' return.