Clemson started the season in the top 10, and by some the favorite to win the national title. They now sit 1-2, with their only win a 4-quarter struggle with a Troy team that just lost 28-7 at home to Memphis.
In a physical tough game with South Carolina, Clemson got outplayed in the 4th quarter and lost. In a physical tough game with LSU, Clemson got outplayed in the 4th quarter and lost. In a physical tough game with Georgia Tech, Clemson got outplayed in the 4th quarter and lost.
I’m not ready to completely write off Clemson’s season. They’ve shown flashes of being the team many thought they could be. They led LSU 10-3 at the half. They outscored Troy 24-0 in the second half. They fell behind on the road at Georgia Tech 13-0 to take a 14-13 lead, where they controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides the ball for the 3rd quarter.
Trying to pinpoint Clemson’s issues is wide and varied, but they should still be better, and it comes down to one thing. They can’t sustain anything. Cade Klubnik makes a couple of good throws, then turns it over. The receivers make nice catches, then a 3rd down conversion gets dropped. The defense plays well for a quarter only to wilt on a critical second-half drive. The run game gets going and then gets abandoned.
Clemson doesn’t get a break, but they won’t be playing teams as physical as LSU and Georgia Tech until at least November and FSU. The defense is still very good, and the offense showed some life in the run game. Adam Randall is starting to look more comfortable as a back, and at some point, Clemson will get #1 receiver Antonio Williams back. With games against FSU, Louisville, and South Carolina, there is enough meat on the schedule to get at large playoff spot if Clemson wins.
The ingredients are there to turn things around, but Clemson has no identity as a team, and the worst-case scenario is starting to play out.
Will Go 8-4 (6-2) if:
Clemson can’t start beating good teams. In the last 4 years, Clemson is 1-5 against OOC opponents ranked in the top 15, and 0-3 in the top 10. LSU is in the top 15 and South Carolina might be too. The Gamecocks won at Clemson last year and have won 2 of the last 3 in the series. Clemson could easily lose both of those games. Louisville has no fear of Clemson after the previous year, and if Georgia Tech can take Georgia to 8 OTs, they can beat Clemson at home.
Clemson and Dabo Swinney are again searching for answers early in the season.
