National analyst ranks Clemson outside Top 20: "This team could be 2-3 in their first five games"

Clemson's start won't be easy, and FOX's Joel Klatt isn't predicting it -- but he says there's "a real chance" of a 2-3 start.

by TigerNet Staff - Aug 6, 2024, 1:45 PM

FOX lead college football analyst Joel Klatt hasn't shied away from some bold takes on Clemson football over the years.

He doesn't like the trend of the Tigers, and that's why he doesn't have Dabo Swinney's program in the expanded Playoff mix.

Klatt revealed his preseason Top 25 this week, which featured Clemson down at No. 22, as the third-best ACC team. Miami paces the league (12), followed closely by Florida State (13).

"I understand that this might seem like a low ranking for Clemson...I know Dabo was bullish on this team after their 4-4 start that they've won their last five," Klatt said. "But in the last few years they finished 14th, 13th and then 20th in the final AP Poll. So they're trending in the wrong direction. (Cade) Klubnik has to step up. Garrett Riley's offense has got to step up. And then I looked at this schedule and I just thought to myself, I don't like it. I don't like the fact that they haven't brought any transfers in — and I get it, but it's more than that. It's more about the fact that they aren't what they were four years ago, and now you look at their schedule and there is a real chance, I don't know how likely, but a real chance that this team could be 2-3 in their first five games."

Klatt then outlined the trouble spots.

"They've got Georgia in Atlanta, App State at home, might be the best group of five team in the country," Klatt said. "They've got North Carolina State at home, NC State likely a top-30 team. They've got at Florida State, which is their former quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. They've got road games at Virginia Tech and South Carolina later in the year. Like, it's just a bad schedule for them. So you're telling me that they're either going to have to upset Georgia or Florida State to be considered in the at-large range or get to the ACC Championship Game.

"I don't know that they've got that in their bag this year."

By the ranking, Klatt's CFP 12 teams are Ohio State, Georgia, Utah, Miami (last conference champ bye), Texas, Oregon, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, Penn State and a Group of 5 champ to be named later (none in his Top 25).

Klatt dropped Clemson nine spots from his post-spring rankings, which had the Tigers a lone spot behind Florida State and five ahead of Miami.

🚨 @joelklatt dropped his Preseason Top 25 📊

What do you think? 👀 pic.twitter.com/l5gp3CWVyz
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) August 5, 2024