Clemson’s path back into the AP Top 25 got a lot tighter this weekend.
The Tigers did take care of Georgia Southern 22-7, but the late-night, into-Sunday finish did little to change the bigger picture. The defense showed up.
The offense, not so much. And with ACC play up next, Dabo Swinney’s team still looks like a long shot to pick up meaningful AP votes this week.
The latest projected poll entering Week 3 is largely a familiar group, with Washington falling out after barely getting past Utah State. That shakeup matters for the conference picture, because the four ACC teams that opened the week ranked all appear set to move up after the weekend’s results.
Miami looks positioned as a clear top-10 team, helped by Oregon’s stumble against Oklahoma State. SMU, Louisville, and Virginia should also rise, with Oregon’s loss and Oklahoma’s defeat to Michigan opening the door.
That’s where the bad news comes in for Clemson. Outside of Miami, none of those ACC teams are on Clemson’s regular-season conference schedule.
And after the Tigers were blown out 41 points on the road at LSU, the list of ranked opponents left on the slate is short. Miami in Week 5 is the only ranked team Clemson is guaranteed to face when that game arrives.
Even getting a single AP vote this week would be a notable step for Swinney’s program. The defense has shown enough to suggest Clemson could be a tougher ACC opponent than expected, and the special teams have been strong. But it all hinges on the offense finding something better, because quarterback play again left plenty to be desired.
If Clemson is going to work its way back into the rankings, the formula is narrow: beat North Carolina, beat Cal, and then shock Miami in back-to-back-to-back fashion. At 4-1 and 3-0, that would almost certainly be enough to crack the top 25, especially with a home upset of the Hurricanes baked into the resume.
For now, though, the more realistic goal is simply getting to a bowl comfortably.
In Other News...
Clemsons QB Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Cant Ignore
Clemsons quarterback picture shifted again this week when Dabo Swinney announced that freshman Tait Reynolds will start Saturdays ACC game against North Carolina. The move comes after Christopher Vizzina was limited by a left arm injury in the previous game, but Swinney said the decision is being made on performance, not simply availability, which makes this turn all the more notable for a team still sorting out the position.
Vizzina is expected to be available as Reynolds backup, leaving Clemson with a new starter and a familiar question hovering over the offense. Reynolds now gets the chance to prove he can steady the job in a conference game, while the Tigers wait to see whether this is a one-game adjustment or the beginning of a deeper change under center. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Opens ACC Play With Early Pressure Against Unbeaten UNC
Clemsons first ACC test arrives Saturday at Memorial Stadium, where the Tigers open league play against an unbeaten North Carolina team that has looked sharp through its first two games. The matchup also carries the kind of conference-stage familiarity that usually gives this one a little extra edge, especially with Clemson trying to settle in after a 1-1 start and get moving in the right direction.
North Carolina comes in at 2-0, which only adds to the early-season intrigue for a Clemson team that has owned this series over the years. The Tigers have had plenty of success in this matchup, but opening conference play against a live opponent like this tends to reveal a lot quickly, and Saturday offers Clemson an immediate chance to see where it stands. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Suddenly Faces Pressure Clemson Fans Never Expected
Clemsons early-season mood has taken a sharp turn after a rough opening two weeks, and Dabo Swinney suddenly finds himself in a conversation Tiger fans never expected to revisit this soon. The Tigers have not looked like the steady standard-bearer theyre used to being, and the concerns go beyond one bad night, with the teams performance already prompting national discussion about whether the program is dealing with more than just a September slump.
The tension only grew after the Week 2 win over Georgia Southern, which did little to calm the unease around the program, and Swinneys postgame clash with a media member only added to the scrutiny. In a sport where patience can disappear quickly when expectations are high, Clemsons situation now sits alongside other high-profile coaches facing pressure for very different reasons, leaving Swinneys tenure a topic no one around the program thought would be in play this early. [Read more 🡒]