Clemson leads ACC out of spring in national outlet's Top 25 |
CBS Sports' latest assessment for the 2024 college football season has the Clemson Tigers
in line for a return to the College Football Playoff.
CBS' Dennis Dodd ranks Clemson as the ACC's best at No. 14 overall. "It's hard to figure out the Tigers. They should be favored to win the ACC, but what more is expected? Coach Dabo Swinney continues to buck the portal trend. If quarterback Cade Klubnik continues to be capable, the defense could lead the Tigers to great things as eight starters return," Dodd said. In the new 12-team Playoff format, the ACC champion would qualify as the No. 4 overall seed by these CBS rankings, as the fourth-best conference champion. The Top 5 conference champions plus seven at-large teams will make the new CFP field. The next-best ACC team is Miami, at No. 17, which jumped Florida State (20). SMU (22) and NC State (24) also made the ranking, while Tigers scheduled November road trip foe Virginia Tech fell out. Atlanta-opener opponent Georgia occupies the top spot. "Maybe it's me, but Carson Beck seems underrated as a passer. That will change as Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas and Miami transfer Colbie Young rule the skies for contested balls. There may never be another Brock Bowers at tight end, but Oscar Delp is no slouch. Meanwhile, the defense continues to meet Smart's dominating standards," Dodd said. The complete Top 5 is Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and Alabama. If the rankings held, the projected playoff would be Georgia, Ohio State, Utah, Clemson, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, Notre Dame, Penn State and Boise State.
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