CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson looks to rebound with its title and CFP chances this season.
Clemson looks to rebound with its title and CFP chances this season.

CBS Sports' predictions mixed on Clemson, from 'most overrated' to Playoff participant


by Brandon Rink - Associate Editor / Staff Writer -

The ACC football season gets going this weekend and Clemson opens with No. 1 Georgia next weekend. So it's time for some bold predictions, and CBS Sports provided those this week.

Only three of the eight panelists picked Clemson to win the league, with the majority taking Miami and just one predicting Florida State. Clemson is picked as low as sixth, which is by the panelist tagging the Tigers as the conference's most overrated team.

"The Tigers made the drop from underwhelming to legitimately mediocre one season ago, ultimately losing three games to unranked opponents and finishing 4-4 in conference play for the first time since 2010. The Tigers are still one of the most talented teams in the league, but how much production can Clemson lose and still maintain? The defense typically replaces well, but the Tigers lost five starters to the NFL Draft and safety Andrew Mukuba to the transfer portal. The offense was a mess last year and will have to move forward without RB Will Shipley and WR Beaux Collins. If this team didn't don the orange and purple, no one would confuse them for an ACC title contender," said CBS' Shehan Jeyarajah, who was joined in agreement on Clemson being overrated by Dennis Dodd and Jerry Palm.

Chip Patterson made the case for picking Clemson to win the ACC, which would clinch a return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since the 2020 season.

"The Tigers threw a lot of young players into the fire last season, so it shouldn't be a surprise that they started a little slow and finished strong with a 5-0 run to close out the year," Patterson said. "Now, those young Tigers are prepped to be stars in 2024, and Cade Klubnik should be improved in Year 2 with Garrett Riley and the additional leadership of Tajh Boyd on the coaching staff as assistant quarterbacks coach. This was a program that won 10-plus games for 12 straight season, and now many are selling stock because of a 9-4 showing last year. But with better injury luck and more experience at key positions, I'm expecting a return to the top for the Tigers."

Clemson came up a few times in the "bold predictions" category as well.

"There will be a four-way tie for first place with Florida State, Clemson, NC State and Virginia Tech all finishing with a 7-1 conference record. Unfortunately for the dark horse picks of the bunch, the tiebreaker scenario would favor the teams at the top of the odds board to start: FSU and Clemson," Patterson said.

On the other side was Jeyrajah.

"Both Florida State and Clemson will get locked out of the ACC Championship Game. Instead, programs like Miami, NC State, SMU and Louisville will finally break through and give the ACC a third unique team in the College Football Playoff since the format started in 2014. The reign of the titans is over, which will only add more agitation in the FSU and Clemson board rooms," he said of the teams that have won the ACC all but one season since 2011.

Dodd picks an interesting media rights-related bold prediction.

"In February, ESPN will exercise its option not to extend the ACC contract beyond 2027," Dodd said. "Florida State -- having played the long game -- will have its out and be able to put itself on the market. FSU will do so at a much reduced rate to get out of the grant of rights since it will only have three years to run. Don't ask me where FSU goes, but if it is as free agent beginning in 2028, there will be Power Four interest. Basically, the next round of major realignment begins less than a month after the 2025 championship game. Buckle up."

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