Look: Multiple heated exchanges between Clemson, UNC players in pregame warmups

Clemson-UNC football is already getting a little spicy.

Roughly two hours before kickoff Saturday at Memorial Stadium, a handful of Clemson players and UNC players exchanged words at midfield and had to be separated by teammates and staffers.

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There were no punches or shoves, and nothing got physical. The exchange lasted about a minute and was quickly diffused by members and staffers on both teams.

About 20 minutes later, another group of Clemson and UNC football players exchanged words as Clemson players walked laps around the stadium and passed through a UNC warmup area at Memorial Stadium.

Coach Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team plays UNC and Bill Belichick in both teams’ ACC opener at noon on ESPN. The Tigers are favored by three points.

What happened in Clemson, UNC pregame exchanges?

The first exchange started as a handful of UNC players ended a pregame prayer around Clemson’s 50-yard line and midfield Tiger Paw logo. The Tar Heels have a group of players who usually do a pregame prayer before home and road games.

As the group of UNC players wrapped up, most of Clemson’s team came out of the locker room and headed toward midfield for their own midfield prayer circle. A group of Clemson players has done that at every home and road game, too.

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As UNC was leaving the area and Clemson was getting there, a few players on each team started to exchange words and encroach on each other. The back-and-forth lasted about a minute before the UNC players returned to the visitors’ locker room.

After an initial flareup around 10 a.m., Clemson and UNC players exchanged words again while a number of Clemson players and staffers, including cornerback Elliot Washington II, were walking pregame laps around the field.

Again, that’s standard practice: Clemson team members often walk pregame laps. The second exchange was shorter than the first and quickly diffused without incident.

Clemson (1-1) and UNC are founding members of the ACC and longtime conference foes. Clemson has won seven straight games against UNC dating back to 2010.

The Tar Heels (2-0), who lost 38-10 at home to Clemson last year, are seeking their first road win at Clemson since 2001.

This story was originally published September 19, 2026 at 7:44 AM with the headline “Look: Multiple heated exchanges between Clemson, UNC players in pregame warmups.”

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