With no actual football games taking place, this time of year is when college football analysts share their “way-too-early” rankings for the upcoming season.
With the transfer portal currently closed and spring football on the horizon for teams like the Clemson Tigers, analysts like Joel Klatt, Fox Sports’ top college football expert, have limited information to work with.
Nevertheless, Klatt has made his assessment. On his Joel Klatt Show, he positioned Clemson as the No. 7 team in the country in his early evaluation of the upcoming college football season.
While he placed the Tigers in the Top 10, he noted that the teams ranked from Nos. 7 to 15 are relatively interchangeable at this point.
Klatt provided valid reasons for the Tigers’ current ranking.
“I really appreciate what Clemson is doing,” Klatt stated. “I’m excited that (rising senior quarterback Cade) Klubnik is returning for his third year as the starter in the same offensive system. Dabo Swinney is finally… wait for it… starting to dip into the portal. Here we go! Clemson is beginning to explore the portal a bit, which could enhance their roster.”
His main concern lies with the defense, which didn’t meet its usual standards. However, Clemson recently hired Tom Allen, who served as Penn State’s defensive coordinator last season when the Nittany Lions reached the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Some of the portal additions Klatt mentioned aim to strengthen the defense, particularly improving the pass rush.
In addition to Klubnik’s development, Klatt highlighted that the Tigers are welcoming back four starting offensive linemen and several key receivers, which should help elevate their offensive performance.
Clemson is coming off a season where they rebounded from a disappointing 2023, finishing with a 9-4 record. The Tigers captured the ACC title by defeating the SMU Mustangs, earning a spot in the CFP, although they lost to Texas in the first round. They ended the season with a 10-4 record.
Clemson has been a consistent presence in the CFP since its inception over ten years ago, with only Alabama (eight appearances) surpassing Clemson’s seven. All of these appearances have occurred under Swinney’s leadership, during which he has guided the Tigers to four CFP title games and secured two national championships.
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