Clemson ranked No. 1 in ESPN's post-Signing Day ranking |
With National Signing Day in the books, we're a little closer to a clearer picture of the 2018 College Football Playoff race.
In ESPN's estimation, Clemson only improved its bid for the No. 1 spot. Dabo Swinney's Tigers top the post-Signing Day poll ahead of reigning-champ Alabama, as well as Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma in the top-5. "The good news keeps coming for the Tigers," ESPN's Mark Schlabach writes, "who signed a fourth straight top-10 recruiting class, after a handful of their draft-eligible juniors decided to return for another college season...After falling short of winning back-to-back national championships, the Tigers should enter 2018 as a heavy favorite to win the ACC and make their fourth straight appearance in the CFP." Next-best among ACC competitors is Miami at No. 8, followed by Virginia Tech (15) and Florida State (18). Non-conference rival foe South Carolina checks in at No. 25. Not all of the early measures agree on Clemson at the top, as both Bleacher Report and SB Nation rankings have the Tigers No. 3 behind Alabama and Ohio State. The SB Nation ranking weighs metrics in recruiting, returning production and sustained success (5-year average) over a number of on-field areas. Behind a No. 1 ranking in key returners, Ohio State is currently the favorite there ahead of Alabama and Clemson. The Tigers rank third in returning production with a third-best 5-year efficiency average, while Alabama is fourth-best in returners and No. 1 in 5-year average. In those metrics, Clemson is the far-and-away ACC leader with Miami next-best at No. 13 and Florida State at No. 18, despite its top-5 recruiting average. Early rankings ESPN 1. Clemson 2. Alabama 3. Georgia 4. Ohio State 5. Oklahoma SB Nation 1. Ohio State 2. Alabama 3. Clemson 4. Washington 5. Auburn Bleacher Report 1. Alabama 2. Ohio State 3. Clemson 4. Georgia 5. Michigan
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