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Sammy Watkins played his college football at Clemson. RAINIER EHRHARDT/AP/Press Association Images

One of college football's biggest teams has expressed an interest in playing in Ireland

And more big names could follow suit.

THE HEAD COACH of the Clemson Tigers โ€” former home to NFL players such as CJ Spiller, Sammy Watkins and Byron Maxwell โ€” has said it would be a โ€œgreat experienceโ€ to bring his team to Ireland and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Notre Dame and Penn State.

Dabo Swinneyโ€™s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rivals Georgia Tech and Boston College will face off in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Dublinโ€™s Aviva Stadium on 3 September 2016 and the Clemson coach โ€” whose side are favourites to win the ACC title this season โ€” was asked on Wendesday if he would accept an invitation to play on this side of the Atlantic.

โ€œShoot yeah, man,โ€ he said.

โ€œWhat a great experience and opportunity for your team.

โ€œSome of these guys have never seen the mountains or the lake and things like that. I can only imagine what itโ€™d be like to take your team to a place like Ireland.โ€

The news is no surprise to Padraic Oโ€™Kane who was in North Carolina representing Irish American Events, the company putting on next yearโ€™s Aviva game.

โ€œClemson is definitely a team weโ€™re looking at,โ€ he told The42 today.

โ€œThe ACC conference is looking at pushing their events globally, not just in football but in other sports too, and you can see the scope of their ambition with two teams from the same conference playing abroad next year for the first time.

โ€œWe also got to chat with the athletic directors of teams like Florida State and Virginia Tech. It was a very soft sell for them because they are looking at opportunities moving forward.

โ€œWe have the environment with Irish American Events to really promote Ireland as a destination and getting a window with athletic directors and the ACC commissioner John Swofford affords us the opportunity to plan ahead.โ€

FKGroup202 Padraic Oโ€™ Kane (right) with Boston College Head Coach Steve Addazio, Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson, and ACC Commissioner John Swofford (left) Irish American Events Irish American Events

Oโ€™Kane โ€” who also took the opportunity to unveil the Waterford Crystal trophy, shaped like an American football helmet, that will go to the winners of next yearโ€™s game  โ€“ says that, while he welcomes the fact Notre Dame have expressed interest in a future game, the goal is to move away from just teams with a link to Ireland and onto the heavy hitters in the sport.

โ€œThereโ€™s a certain amount of discussion going on [with Notre Dame]. We will talk to them and theyโ€™ve said clearly they want to come back so you never know.

โ€œBut we want to reach outside of the likes of Boston College and Notre Dame and we really want the big teams to start thinking about this and I think they are.โ€

Which teams would you like to see play in Ireland? Let us know in the comment section below.

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    Mute Padraigh75โšก
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    Jul 23rd 2015, 11:41 AM

    Would be happy with Clemson as long as they bring an LSU, Alabama, Ohio state or Auburn with them

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    Mute Padraigh75โšก
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    Jul 23rd 2015, 11:45 AM

    Or Oregan

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    Mute Phil Callanan
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    Jul 23rd 2015, 11:47 AM

    They play Auburn in 2016 and 2017 but wonโ€™t play any of the rest up until 2023 earliest according to their non-conference game schedule. If they play, it will likely be against another ACC team.

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    Mute Camroc
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    Jul 23rd 2015, 9:06 PM

    Why? Are you short some herbs??

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    Mute Cormac
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    Jul 23rd 2015, 11:20 AM

    Shoot yeah man!

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    Mute Phil Callanan
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    Jul 23rd 2015, 11:16 AM

    Iโ€™m guessing nobody told Dabo Swinney about the referendum result in May???

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