Clemson may be entering the season without a ranking next to its name, but ESPN’s Heather Dinich isn’t buying the idea that the Tigers are fading.
During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Dinich said she expects a noticeable step forward from Dabo Swinney’s team and even floated a trip to the ACC Championship Game against Miami.
"I will be shocked, absolutely shocked, if Clemson is not better this year," Dinich said. "I’m gonna go on a limb here, [they will be] playing Miami in the ACC Championship."
She stopped short of guaranteeing Clemson would beat Miami in Death Valley, but she didn’t dismiss that possibility either. Dinich pointed to the quarterback situation as a concern, though she noted that issue isn’t exclusive to Clemson.
She also praised the Chad Morris hire and said Tom Allen, now in year two as defensive coordinator, should be a major factor. In her view, Clemson is on "an upward trajectory" and in playoff contention.
The Tigers are trying to move past a season that fell far short of expectations. The program is coming off its worst year in more than a decade, and that reality has fueled a determined reset around Swinney’s staff. Morris is being counted on to stabilize the offense, while Allen and offensive line coach Matt Luke are seen as experienced additions who fit the job they’ve been asked to handle.
Dinich also relayed Swinney’s concerns about how rough last season’s secondary was, but she emphasized that Allen now has a full season in the system. She pointed to his track record at Indiana and said he played a significant role in Penn State reaching the national semifinals two years ago during his lone season there. With Sammy Brown taking charge, she believes the defense should be much improved.
Clemson’s path back into the league’s biggest stage is there for the taking. Dinich noted that among Clemson, Louisville, Miami, and SMU, only one has won the ACC before, and she suggested that kind of championship experience still matters. She also said the conference effectively has one playoff lock and three serious contenders for the remaining spot.
Miami may be the favorite in the broader picture, even if Dinich said it would be surprising for the Canes to miss the playoffs after last year’s national title run. Still, she added that Mario Cristobal has a habit of losing games he shouldn’t. Clemson, Louisville, and SMU are all in the mix, and Dinich expects one of them to meet Miami in Charlotte.
Clemson does not play Louisville or SMU during the regular season, but if the Tigers handle their other seven ACC games and take care of business against LSU and South Carolina in non-conference play, the route to Charlotte becomes very real. Dinich said a win there would lock up a playoff berth, while a loss might not necessarily end Clemson’s postseason hopes.
For a program eager to erase last year’s disappointment, the opportunity is right there. No team in the ACC appears more determined to reclaim the league crown than Clemson.
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