The AP Top 25 picture could look very different heading into Week 5, and Clemson is one of the teams worth watching closely even if it does not land in the rankings yet.
After the Week 4 results shake out, the Tigers should at least be in the conversation for votes. Clemson is 3-1 and has won three straight since that ugly 51-point road loss to LSU.
That opener still hangs over the résumé, but the more recent stretch has shown real improvement, especially on defense. The question now is whether that defense is sturdy enough to slow down Miami’s offense when the two teams meet.
If Clemson can beat a top-10 team next week, it will be hard to keep the Tigers out of the Week 6 poll.
At the top end of the league, Miami should move into the top five after handling Central Michigan, especially with Ole Miss stumbling at Florida. Florida looks like one of the biggest risers in the country after taking care of Ole Miss in The Swamp, while Mississippi State and Oregon should also climb after ranked wins over Missouri and USC.
The other side of the ledger should be rougher for several teams. Louisville and Texas A&M do not look like they’ll remain ranked, and Ole Miss, USC, Tennessee, Penn State, and Michigan all appear headed for noticeable drops.
Clemson’s path back into the AP Top 25 may depend as much on what happens around it as on what it does next. The Tigers do have a loss to a ranked team, but it came in non-conference play and on the road. More importantly, they are 2-0 in ACC play, and that matters this early in the season.
If Clemson gets past Miami and moves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play, it would be tough to argue against putting the Tigers in the top 25.
The ACC picture itself is in flux. Louisville could tumble out completely after a second loss, with the latest coming at home to Wake Forest.
That result changes the conversation around the Demon Deacons, too. Wake Forest could be ranked soon and could even jump past some undefeated ACC teams like Duke, Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech.
Those three are a combined 12-0, but none of them has a win as strong as Wake Forest’s. The Demon Deacons’ only loss so far came against Miami on a Friday night.
Virginia also remains part of the mix, though the AP voters may be sorting through what to do with West Virginia. And SMU, despite the road loss to Louisville looking worse after this weekend, still feels like a top-three team in the conference at this point.
The bottom line is simple: in a chaotic ACC, Clemson should at least be getting votes.
In Other News...
Dabo Sends Clemson A Clear Warning Before Miami Arrives
The road win gave Clemson a useful reminder of what can travel well, and Dabo Swinney made sure to point to the defense and the kind of finishing drive that can change the tone of a game. He also noted how the quarterback worked through a difficult night, while still stressing confidence in the players growth as the Tigers move deeper into the season.
Now the focus shifts to a home meeting with a strong opponent, and Swinney didnt shy away from the challenge of getting the team back into rhythm after the travel and the quick turnaround. The warning was clear enough: Clemson handled one tough test on the road, but the next one asks for a different level of readiness, especially with Miami coming to town. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Took A Brutal Backfield Hit Before Miami
Clemsons backfield took another hit heading into a pivotal stretch, with running back David Eziomume expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury against California. Coach Dabo Swinney confirmed the news and said Eziomume will need surgery, a tough turn for a Tigers offense already managing injuries elsewhere on the roster.
The timing is especially rough with Miami looming, and Clemson is now trying to sort through a thinner mix of options while keeping the rest of the lineup intact. Swinney also said starting guard Elyjah Thurmon, nickel Corian Gipson and defensive tackle Devarrick Woods are dealing with short-term injuries, which at least leaves some reason to think the list of sidelined Tigers may not keep growing much further. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Got A Tougher Miami Test Than Expected
Miamis trip to Clemson is looking a little sturdier than it might have earlier in the week. Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. are expected to be available for the matchup, giving Miami a pair of key pieces back after both missed the Central Michigan game.
Both players were held out as a precaution after minor injuries against Wake Forest, and Cristobal said they are healthy and ready to return. For Clemson, that adds a little more heft to a game already carrying the usual weight of an ACC showdown, especially with Miami likely to be closer to full strength than it was in its last outing. [Read more 🡒]