National outlet tabs Clemson for Top 15 ranking, one behind ACC favorite

Peter Woods and the Clemson defense will be an anchor for a team looking to crack the Top 10 and the College Football Playoff.

by TigerNet Staff - Aug 12, 2024, 9:32 AM

Pro Football Focus released its preseason Top 25 on Monday, placing Clemson in the Top 15 and close to the top of the ACC.

Clemson checks in at No. 13 overall.

"They are really good because of their defense," PFF's Max Chadwick said in a podcast on the Top 25 ranking. "An absolutely stellar defense that should be the same once again, led by Peter Woods, a true sophomore D-Tackle who I think is going to be a breakout superstar as a sophomore. And that defense should be good enough to help them compete for an ACC title and a College Football Playoff spot, but really the big question is if Garrett Riley the offensive coordinator and Cade Klubnik finally get it going offensively. They have a lot of potential. Garrett Riley is one of the highest-paid coordinators in the sport, and Cade Klubnik was a 5-star quarterback a few years ago.

"But they really did not look great last year offensively – and they need to, because if they want to be a top ACC team, that offense has to get a lot better."

Woods was tabbed as PFF's No. 49 overall player in college football on Monday also.

One spot ahead of the Tigers at 12, Miami is placed as the top ACC team for PFF because of transfer QB Cam Ward, with the Hurricanes tabbed as looking like “the most well-rounded team in the ACC.”

The media favorite Florida State Seminoles are down at No. 16.

"Florida State certainly isn’t as stacked as it was last season, but the Seminoles can still make the playoff as one of the top ACC contenders," said the outlet, which rounds out the ACC teams with Louisville one spot later.

Like with the Coaches Poll, Clemson will open the season in Atlanta on August 31 (noon/ABC) with No. 1 Georgia.

"With the best coach (Kirby Smart), the best quarterback (Carson Beck) and one of the best rosters in college football, the Bulldogs are one of the favorites to win it all next season — an accomplishment that would mark their third national title in four years," PFF said.

The Top 5 is Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Ole Miss and Texas.

A projected 12-team Playoff out of the ranking would be Georgia, Ohio State, Arizona, Miami (last conference champ Playoff bye), Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas, Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan, Penn State and a Group of 5 team to be named later (last conference champ spot).