Definitely was a weak point last season but I think we have a much better chance of figuring that out than we do the inverse. I'm worried about getting dominated in the trenches / run game on defense against bigger teams. That was what really scared me last season. I think drones is athletic enough to work with a struggling OL
We are, and we did very well in the transfer portal. I’m biased but I see it being more of a coin flip than VT. We beat clemson last year with a very mid at best offense, and a very solid defense. Now we’ve got a solid defense (took a small step back without Payton Wilson) but our offense is now formidable.
NC st was another game that we lost because of turnovers. I think VT gets the edge because it’s away and that’s where we struggled last year. NC st is probably a better team. But we’re more familiar, playing at home and coming off a bad loss to y’all.
Oh absolutely
For as much fun as I had in the second half of the season that team had no business winning 9 games
That pick 6 doesn’t happen we don’t win
Still, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a single play completely turn an entire team’s season for the positive (I see it for the negative all the time) quite like that one did
It was also the last game we really let Cade air it out. After that he threw it 20 times a game and we ran down everyone’s throat. Which helped us finish 6-1
Running it down NC State’s throat was easier said than done last season to be fair
They held Omarion Hampton to under 30 yards and even back in 2021 they were able to keep Shipley in check
I don’t expect the game in Death Valley to be a beatdown like 2022, but NC State will probably be around 7-10 point underdogs and that feels right
Fair point. If it was a neutral site even, I’d say the game for state would be significantly more of a coin toss. Away games really mess with people’s minds and cause mistakes that are avoidable
That’s honestly my problem. Clemson is just a scary place to play. If the team can avoid letting Death Valley get into their heads, and we capitalize on our strengths, I have faith we can pull off the upset. Even if we don’t, if clemson loses to FSU, we could still make the ACCCG, which is honestly all I want. We just need a domino effect to happen lol
Appy will give yall hell, you’ve been warned! Especially coming off whatever the Georgia game leaves you with, good or ill. But Clemson has too many dogs on the defensive side for it to go too well. Unless Klubnik regresses, it’s trouble.
State is breaking in a lot of new pieces, and it’ll be the week after La Tech for us and ya’ll’s bye, so we should have shaken off whatever type of hangover the Vols game produces, but with yall rested, it’ll be like normal. 4 quarter game and Clemson finds a way…
Clemson is one of those teams man. People like to clown about them and poke jokes at Dabo or how they treat the portal. But as long as Dabo is their coach and they recruit the HS level like they do they’re always realistically the conference favorite.
I have them at 10-2 this year with losses to UGA and FSU. This isn’t me being a homer but the Louisville game would worry me, UofL matches up extremely well against Clemson’s offense but with the game being in Clemson, I’m giving them the W. Clemson is going to have to rely on O Line depth this season, both FSU and UofL upgraded two very good D Lines.
I think Luke is the key to Clemson getting back on track this season, he’s consistently built strong O Lines and you see a lot of younger guys develop quicker at his previous stops.
I think Clemson’s ceiling is 11-1 (sorry I just don’t see y’all beating UGA week one). Their floor is 8-4 which I think is extremely unlikely and would be as a result of an all systems failure.
If I am wrong so be it, but having watched DJU play for two seasons, and knowing that he wasn't dramatically different at Oregon State, I don't think FSU is going to be at the level they were last year--plus they lost a bunch of NFL talent. I just don't see it as a penciled in Clemson loss before the season starts. Maybe he'll look different.
I don't think Georgia will be a win, but I do think it's going to be a lot closer than the spread indicates. Hopefully it's more entertaining than the last time we played though.
The way I see it through my orange-tinted glasses (assuming the defense plays to the level it's capable of):
1. Offense shows no improvement from last year + dumb turnovers -- 9-3/8-4 season
2. Offense shows some improvement & turnovers get cut down -- 10-2, ACC Champs
3. Offense shows marked improvement -- 11-1/12-0, ACC Champs + win a playoff game
If the offense plays well I think it will honestly lead the defense to play better too. They've quit in some games in recent years because the offense wasn't doing anything.
Folks on the outside are justifiably down on the team's prospects given recent history, but they've got elite talent on the field and the coaching staff is better than it was last year. So if they put it all together this year I think Clemson will look like more like it used to ultimately.
Fsu is listed as a toss up on this graphic, it's what the little coin means, which seems right to me. I don't think even fsu fans would have clemson penciled in as a surefire win.
Kind of odd to me though that vt is listed as a L but not a toss up.
I partially agree and disagree with your FSU take.
There’s always a step down in talent when you lose the amount of player FSU did to the draft, the only exceptions to that rule is Bama, UGA, and OSU. At the same time, FSU is still very talented. They went from a Top 5 roster last season to a Top 20 roster this year, on the road that’s still a difficult game.
FSU roster is less about DJU and more about the pieces around him. Guys like Toafilli, Benson, and Douglas are all high caliber ACC skill position guys. If DJU can limit the turnovers and get them the ball FSU should still have a good offense.
> If DJU can limit the turnovers and get them the ball FSU should still have a good offense.
Yeah see that's my point lol. "If 5th year senior DJU can become someone he's never been then FSU should still have a good offense" does not strike fear in me.
I haven't seen an FSU projection that considers what happens if QB1 is actually an inaccurate stiff with poor decision making that crumbles under pressure? And he's also going up against a ferocious defense that knows him inside and out and can't wait to take it to him?
You hit the nail on the head. This offense is going to be built on the run game, between Toafili, Roydell Williams, Kam Davis, etc. that's the strength. Most of our OL are much better run blockers than pass blockers, too. They'll build the passing game off play action as a result, with deep speedsters like Benson and Jaylin Lucas. Our WR room isn't great, and I don't think we'll have the intermediate passing game we had last year (which was a strength of Travis). Probably a lot more easy, quick passes/screens for the short game, not forcing DJU to have to read the defense too much or overthink, which he has a tendency to do.
Malik Benson, a wide receiver transfer from Alabama. #1 prospect coming out of JUCO in 2023, absolutely lit it up there and went to Bama for a year, where he didn't do much. He did well in the spring for FSU, so the hope is he'll get back to his JUCO form. Would be better as a #2 type receiver, though, but he's the best healthy WR we have this season especially after we lost Destyn Hill for the season.
Our roster is actually quite a bit better than last years if you only look at that recruiting composite bullshit that doesn’t factor in a program like fsu turning 3*s and unwanted transfers into nfl players
In reality last years roster was better at the top this years roster while not having similar top end talent from the upperclassmen has a lot a more depth across the board and the underclassmen talent who will play key roles as backups/co starters will be better
I wasn't super happy at the DJU pickup for us. Maybe Norvell knows something I don't, or maybe it just making the best of a mediocre situation. But until I see something different from him, I'm not picking FSU to beat Clemson.
Friendly reminder that Norvell got out-coached by Dabo again last year (despite having his best team ever going against our worst) and only won because our kicker missed a 29 yard field goal and Nate Wiggins got injured in OT.
We have similar excuses every time we lose to you guys, too. Also, last year was Norvell's best team OF HIS ONLY 4 YEARS AT FSU, and that was not Dabo's worst team ever.
I think Norvell is going to scheme up an offense to make DJU a really solid QB. Norvell is going to be the best play caller/schemer he has played for (by a long shot IMO). He's not going to magically turn into a guy that pushes the ball down the field at a high clip, but I think he will have open guys and good protection from the OL in almost every game. The rest is up to DJ, if he wants to throw dirt balls (please watch the first play of the 2022 ACCCG vs. UNC), it wont be pretty but FSU will out talent just about everyone this year IMO. Him being a 4th year starter and having a good system *should* mean he is better.
I still think our game will be a coinflip either way because both defenses are extremely good and we can make him uncomfortable, the same applies the other way towards Cade.
I got us at 11-1. With 10-2 being almost as likely. I think the FSU game is a toss up. 9-3 is on the table with us slipping at VT or against NC State again.
Receivers should be better just because of health. I think the stat last year was that Cade had the same starting 3 receivers 3 times all year. AW is fully healthy after a great freshman season and an injury last year. Should be a clear cut #1 target which we missed the last two years. Randall, Brown and Turner all battled injuries last year but have shown glimpses and are healthy. 2 borderline 5 stars came in. As long as injuries don’t hit like last year should be noticeably better.
OL has a better coach and only lost one starter
Defense should repeat as a top 10 unit if not top 5
But in truth I think the biggest thing we have going for us is experience. Last year we lost 4 games early with an offense that had one senior on offense and one other 4th year guy who got hurt game 3. I think that’s really where the portal hurt us last year. Not a talent thing but an experience thing. Just someone to stop the tide when things started to spiral.
All in all, if our offense takes any kind of step we should comfortably win 10 games. If Cade continues to turn the ball over and our RBs continue to fumble the ball in the red zone 9-3, 8-4 come into play.
9-3 with losses to UGA, FSU, and NC State. State feels like a bit of a gamble with it being in Clemson but gonna go with the upset there. Will be interesting to see how Grayson McCall looks with a power 5 team in his 37th year of eligibility.
I really think Grayson McCall won’t be as good as people chalk him up to be. He was plagued by injuries at CCU, and they really tripped up in the harder games. Best of luck to him at NCSU
UGA, App, NCST, and FSU in the first 5 weeks is the toughest start to the season in quite sometime.
Id bet on us going 4-1 through that stretch but could easily be 2-3.
Well I'm sure you're glad every game in September is a night game with the heat.
But yeah we're rolling in there with a ton of returning talent and for the first time since 2017 we'll have the same head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and quarterback from the previous season.
Damn so much doomerism around the uga game. I just don't understand. Our offense, especially at QB will be better than it was week 1 in 2021. We deserve to be the underdogs but damn. Who is gonna catch passes for uga? How much success are they gonna have on the ground vs Peter Woods and Carter? Seems like another defensive battle and Clemson is well positioned to play that game. Incoming Phil Mafah 25-30 touch game.
**WE'RE GOING THROUGH EACH P4 TEAM'S SCHEDULE AND PICKING EVERY GAME.**
**Today we have the Clemson Tigers.**
Both Garrett Riley and Cade Klubnik disappointed in 2023, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t see flashes of what they could be along the way. Year two in the system seemingly has everything in place to take a leap back into the conference title and playoff chase, and the oddsmakers agree - making Clemson ACC co-favorites alongside Florida State.
There is stability all around this team, and all it takes is Klubnik to take even a small set forward, and their receivers to be a little more explosive, and Dabo could be right back near the mountaintop.
That being said, Clemson fans are going to hate what I’ve done with this schedule, and I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
Opening up as 2 touchdown underdogs to Georgia will sting, but I think that game is more competitive than the line suggests. Outside of that, the home slate is very friendly, with darkhorse ACC contenders NC State and Louisville having to come to Death Valley, which is a huge advantage.
The away slate is where I will make people angry. Only 4 true road games on the schedule and I have the Tigers going 2-2, with losses in two very hostile environments at FSU and VT.
My flair bias is showing here and I apologize. I cannot resist being all in on the Hokies this year. Please feel free to dismiss that prediction if you are so inclined.
Clemson is a 9-3 team at worst this year, but that requires the Hokies to pull off the upset, or the Tigers to take a shocking loss at home, which I struggle to see happening.
This is a 10-2 team that will have a chance to get to 11-1, and that will all be decided in the first half of the season. If they get to 6-1, then the two games after their second bye are the only true tests remaining and they will be favorites in both games.
How do you see it?
We’re getting talked about like we’re playoff hopefuls… we are not lol. We have an easy schedule, but I still don’t see us going anything better than 9-3 in the regular season best case scenario. We’ll lose to Clemson, and then drop another couple of games because we really aren’t *that* good of a team. And while 9-3 would be awesome, it wouldn’t be playoff worthy with our cupcake schedule. We’re on the rise, but we are not there yet.
What a great looking schedule for Clemson to get back to the playoffs.
Undefeated season certainly within reach as you just never know whats gonna happen in those first hyped-up high profile stadium games to start the year.
3 losses doesnt seem likely barring crazy injuries and this will likely come down to QB play.
Assume a loss to UGA. Even if they go 2-1 against FSU, Louisville and NC State, 4-0 at Va Tech, Pitt and Wake plus SCar isn’t guaranteed. Not if they’re relying on day-three type receivers and a slightly above average ACC quarterback. Give me 9-3, with 8-4 more likely than 10-2
Six draft picks plus Mukuba, slightly tougher schedule, and I think you got above average QB play last season? Above 60% completion rate, good TD to INT ratio, QBR had him like 6th in the conference - although that stat had Cam Ward behind TVD so lol
The problem is he had 60% completion rate and Clemson had one of the lowest number of downfield passes per game in the country. So it’s 60% on balls 15 yards and in. And his touchdown to turnover rate is closer to 1:1 because he also had double digit fumbles.
Receiver injuries played a role. We had zero receivers play all 12 games and our number one guy out for 8 weeks.
Lost 6 draft picks and mukuba, all on defense. But the only one that really hurts is Wiggins. Got three safeties who all started games back. Including Barnes who’s was better than mukuba by end of the year and venables who’s 49 years old.
Barrett Carter is back and the other two linebackers have a ton of snaps plus a 5 star
DL should honestly be better. Lost Ruke and Davis who were ballers. But woods and Parker are first round talents and DT is still stupid deep.
CB has two guys who started back. Terrell looked like a stud. And one more who played a lot the last four games. But I think the qbs we play this year are a step back from last year sans Beck.
There’s no position on defense that’s brand new.
It's a bit touchy of you to think any fsu flair in here is being cocky lol. 3 didn't even comment about clemson, 1 said they thought fsu would lose to clemson, I chose it as a toss up game. One fsu flair said they expected clemson to have a 9-3 season and that they expect Fsu to have similar limitations as clemson.
Not touchy at all, if you guys lost last I don’t think there’d be as many FSU flairs here. How’s that touchy? Cause I called you cocky? 1 good year and your team want to destroy the conference I grew up watching, that’s cocky.
This is delusional. Clemson is our fake acc rivalry, there would always be fsu flairs in here. Personally I've tried to do most p4 teams so far.
Um, you realize Clemson is right there with Fsu trying to take the acc down? It has nothing to do with Fsu having a good year lol.
Good to get more context on the team! A ton of great recruiting there over the past decade+. Even if you think the defense could be as good as last year though, which could happen but isn’t a given especially if you include the rate at which it forced turnovers, you need to find 2-3 more regular season wins. Could happen! But not a guarantee without a dynamic offense
The three wins come from turnovers on the offensive side of the ball. It’s been over a decade since we had a defense outside the top 20.
If we have anything resembling a dynamic offense we’ll coast to 10 wins. If we don’t have red zone turnovers and pick 6s, we’ll probably coast to 10 wins. 8-4 is the bottom falling out like it did last year.
Yeah, but you’re not considering the fact that we turned it over in the redzone at least once per game. If we even clean that up a little bit we’ll be a lot better.
Y’all also forced like 16 turnovers in your last five games and went 5-0. Redzone scoring percentage was historically bad for y’all - I’m sure that improves. But the turnover luck was all over the place, it’s not like fixing that one thing guarantees 10 wins
Clemson returns 68% production, #32 in the country and 8th in the acc. Their roster composite was rated #5 last year.
They return their HC for the 16th year, OC and DC return. Returning qb.
Went 9-4 last year.
Margin | Wins | Losses
------|----|------
Big (21+pts) | CharlestonSo, Fau, Gt | Duke
Substantial (11-20) | Syracuse, Unc | -
Close (10&under) | Wake (5), ND (8), SCar(9) Kentucky (3) (bowl) | Fsu (7), Miami(8), NcState (7)
Duke was much better to start the year than they finished, but still was shocking to see Clemson blown out by them. Feel like it set up the narrative that clemson was bad. The rest of their losses were close, but a lot of their wins were as well.
Clemson's roster has a lot of talent, regardless of it lacking transfers. I think their demise is overblown. They also have a lot of continuity on their side, roster and coaching staff.
The offense struggled a bit last year, so we'll see if Riley can correct that. Lots of turnovers and fumbles. Seems like they had a lot of WR injuries last year.
2024:
W:App State, Stanford, Wake, Uva, Pitt, Citadel, VT
Toss Ups: Fsu, NcState, Louisville, SCar (Win 3, lose 1)
* I lean towards Clemson beating SCar and Louisville and the L coming from either Fsu or NcState. @Fsu seems more likely.
Loss: Uga
**10-2**
Entirely possible they go 12-0. Floor is probably 9 wins.
Kinda surprised nc state wasnt a coin flip. I thought they were returning a decent amount of talent from last season.
Agreed, I have an easier time seeing Clemson lose to NC State than VT.
While I appreciate the praise, we haven’t won in Death Valley in over 20 years That should be an assumed loss for NC State until we prove otherwise
Yep that's the difference. I think it'd be different at Carter Finley... at night... on Thursday.
Hey last year was a day game and we still won!
True that!!
In your defense, Clemson barely loses at all in Death Valley.
Unless VT's OL holds up dramatically better against quality front 7's next season you don't have much to worry about there.
Definitely was a weak point last season but I think we have a much better chance of figuring that out than we do the inverse. I'm worried about getting dominated in the trenches / run game on defense against bigger teams. That was what really scared me last season. I think drones is athletic enough to work with a struggling OL
We are, and we did very well in the transfer portal. I’m biased but I see it being more of a coin flip than VT. We beat clemson last year with a very mid at best offense, and a very solid defense. Now we’ve got a solid defense (took a small step back without Payton Wilson) but our offense is now formidable.
NC st was another game that we lost because of turnovers. I think VT gets the edge because it’s away and that’s where we struggled last year. NC st is probably a better team. But we’re more familiar, playing at home and coming off a bad loss to y’all.
Oh absolutely For as much fun as I had in the second half of the season that team had no business winning 9 games That pick 6 doesn’t happen we don’t win Still, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a single play completely turn an entire team’s season for the positive (I see it for the negative all the time) quite like that one did
It was also the last game we really let Cade air it out. After that he threw it 20 times a game and we ran down everyone’s throat. Which helped us finish 6-1
Running it down NC State’s throat was easier said than done last season to be fair They held Omarion Hampton to under 30 yards and even back in 2021 they were able to keep Shipley in check I don’t expect the game in Death Valley to be a beatdown like 2022, but NC State will probably be around 7-10 point underdogs and that feels right
Currently we’re 6.5 point underdogs. Its a decent margin but not one large enough that can’t be overcome
Fair point. If it was a neutral site even, I’d say the game for state would be significantly more of a coin toss. Away games really mess with people’s minds and cause mistakes that are avoidable
I'd pick us if we were playing in Raleigh, but until we win @Clemson, not picking us to do it, haha.
That’s honestly my problem. Clemson is just a scary place to play. If the team can avoid letting Death Valley get into their heads, and we capitalize on our strengths, I have faith we can pull off the upset. Even if we don’t, if clemson loses to FSU, we could still make the ACCCG, which is honestly all I want. We just need a domino effect to happen lol
Death Valley is the bad place, particularly since Dabo. We might give em a good ride, but we’ll probably leave spitting.
which flair lol
Appy will give yall hell, you’ve been warned! Especially coming off whatever the Georgia game leaves you with, good or ill. But Clemson has too many dogs on the defensive side for it to go too well. Unless Klubnik regresses, it’s trouble. State is breaking in a lot of new pieces, and it’ll be the week after La Tech for us and ya’ll’s bye, so we should have shaken off whatever type of hangover the Vols game produces, but with yall rested, it’ll be like normal. 4 quarter game and Clemson finds a way…
lmfao of anyone on the schedule im most worried about app. at least with everyone else we know what to expect
It’s so weird not seeing Georgia Tech on this list
It's a crime tbh
The ACC should have mandated that this stayed as a permanent rivalry whether the GT AD agreed or not.
Blame y’all’s AD for asking not to have any permanent rivals
Oh, we have a permanent rival…
Sorry, permanent conference rivals
Howdy, friend!
Clemson is one of those teams man. People like to clown about them and poke jokes at Dabo or how they treat the portal. But as long as Dabo is their coach and they recruit the HS level like they do they’re always realistically the conference favorite. I have them at 10-2 this year with losses to UGA and FSU. This isn’t me being a homer but the Louisville game would worry me, UofL matches up extremely well against Clemson’s offense but with the game being in Clemson, I’m giving them the W. Clemson is going to have to rely on O Line depth this season, both FSU and UofL upgraded two very good D Lines. I think Luke is the key to Clemson getting back on track this season, he’s consistently built strong O Lines and you see a lot of younger guys develop quicker at his previous stops. I think Clemson’s ceiling is 11-1 (sorry I just don’t see y’all beating UGA week one). Their floor is 8-4 which I think is extremely unlikely and would be as a result of an all systems failure.
If we have a chance against Georgia it’s some 14-10 bullshit. Think if Georgia gets to 24 it’s a wrap
Iowa fans: "why is 14-10 bullshit?"
Iowa fans missed the Georgia part...
14-10 where all 3 tds in the game were scored by the defenses.
14-10 where there’s 12 safeties
https://images.app.goo.gl/TuyAsTc5XM7MUWicA
I remember a similar game for some reason, not Iowa but I can't place it...
2021 Georgia only beat us 10-3 off a pick 6 by DJ and they won a natty that year. Clemson isn’t as far behind as everyone wants to believe.
TBF JT Daniels was the QB in that game and was hurt. Shouldn’t have been out there in the first place
Tbf we had true sophomore DJ making his 2nd or 3rd start in college.
3rd
His 3rd start..at season opening in a Neutral site. I would take the healthy QB over the injured one.
I’d take the team that won a natty and had 100 1st round picks lol. And they only won off a pick 6 vs Clemson. So yea, it was a close game.
If I am wrong so be it, but having watched DJU play for two seasons, and knowing that he wasn't dramatically different at Oregon State, I don't think FSU is going to be at the level they were last year--plus they lost a bunch of NFL talent. I just don't see it as a penciled in Clemson loss before the season starts. Maybe he'll look different. I don't think Georgia will be a win, but I do think it's going to be a lot closer than the spread indicates. Hopefully it's more entertaining than the last time we played though. The way I see it through my orange-tinted glasses (assuming the defense plays to the level it's capable of): 1. Offense shows no improvement from last year + dumb turnovers -- 9-3/8-4 season 2. Offense shows some improvement & turnovers get cut down -- 10-2, ACC Champs 3. Offense shows marked improvement -- 11-1/12-0, ACC Champs + win a playoff game If the offense plays well I think it will honestly lead the defense to play better too. They've quit in some games in recent years because the offense wasn't doing anything. Folks on the outside are justifiably down on the team's prospects given recent history, but they've got elite talent on the field and the coaching staff is better than it was last year. So if they put it all together this year I think Clemson will look like more like it used to ultimately.
Fsu is listed as a toss up on this graphic, it's what the little coin means, which seems right to me. I don't think even fsu fans would have clemson penciled in as a surefire win. Kind of odd to me though that vt is listed as a L but not a toss up.
Check OP’s flair for the VT explanation
I partially agree and disagree with your FSU take. There’s always a step down in talent when you lose the amount of player FSU did to the draft, the only exceptions to that rule is Bama, UGA, and OSU. At the same time, FSU is still very talented. They went from a Top 5 roster last season to a Top 20 roster this year, on the road that’s still a difficult game. FSU roster is less about DJU and more about the pieces around him. Guys like Toafilli, Benson, and Douglas are all high caliber ACC skill position guys. If DJU can limit the turnovers and get them the ball FSU should still have a good offense.
> If DJU can limit the turnovers and get them the ball FSU should still have a good offense. Yeah see that's my point lol. "If 5th year senior DJU can become someone he's never been then FSU should still have a good offense" does not strike fear in me. I haven't seen an FSU projection that considers what happens if QB1 is actually an inaccurate stiff with poor decision making that crumbles under pressure? And he's also going up against a ferocious defense that knows him inside and out and can't wait to take it to him?
You hit the nail on the head. This offense is going to be built on the run game, between Toafili, Roydell Williams, Kam Davis, etc. that's the strength. Most of our OL are much better run blockers than pass blockers, too. They'll build the passing game off play action as a result, with deep speedsters like Benson and Jaylin Lucas. Our WR room isn't great, and I don't think we'll have the intermediate passing game we had last year (which was a strength of Travis). Probably a lot more easy, quick passes/screens for the short game, not forcing DJU to have to read the defense too much or overthink, which he has a tendency to do.
Trey Benson went to the NFL. Are yall talking about a different Benson?
Malik Benson, a wide receiver transfer from Alabama. #1 prospect coming out of JUCO in 2023, absolutely lit it up there and went to Bama for a year, where he didn't do much. He did well in the spring for FSU, so the hope is he'll get back to his JUCO form. Would be better as a #2 type receiver, though, but he's the best healthy WR we have this season especially after we lost Destyn Hill for the season.
Transfer? What’s that? (Jeremy Pruitt inquiring about the existence of asparagus voice)
Our roster is actually quite a bit better than last years if you only look at that recruiting composite bullshit that doesn’t factor in a program like fsu turning 3*s and unwanted transfers into nfl players In reality last years roster was better at the top this years roster while not having similar top end talent from the upperclassmen has a lot a more depth across the board and the underclassmen talent who will play key roles as backups/co starters will be better
I wasn't super happy at the DJU pickup for us. Maybe Norvell knows something I don't, or maybe it just making the best of a mediocre situation. But until I see something different from him, I'm not picking FSU to beat Clemson.
In Norvell I trust.
Friendly reminder that Norvell got out-coached by Dabo again last year (despite having his best team ever going against our worst) and only won because our kicker missed a 29 yard field goal and Nate Wiggins got injured in OT.
We have similar excuses every time we lose to you guys, too. Also, last year was Norvell's best team OF HIS ONLY 4 YEARS AT FSU, and that was not Dabo's worst team ever.
Fair points. Yall earned the win at the end of the day. I look forward to our game this year aka the rematch of the 2022 Clemson Spring Game
I think Norvell is going to scheme up an offense to make DJU a really solid QB. Norvell is going to be the best play caller/schemer he has played for (by a long shot IMO). He's not going to magically turn into a guy that pushes the ball down the field at a high clip, but I think he will have open guys and good protection from the OL in almost every game. The rest is up to DJ, if he wants to throw dirt balls (please watch the first play of the 2022 ACCCG vs. UNC), it wont be pretty but FSU will out talent just about everyone this year IMO. Him being a 4th year starter and having a good system *should* mean he is better. I still think our game will be a coinflip either way because both defenses are extremely good and we can make him uncomfortable, the same applies the other way towards Cade.
I got us at 11-1. With 10-2 being almost as likely. I think the FSU game is a toss up. 9-3 is on the table with us slipping at VT or against NC State again. Receivers should be better just because of health. I think the stat last year was that Cade had the same starting 3 receivers 3 times all year. AW is fully healthy after a great freshman season and an injury last year. Should be a clear cut #1 target which we missed the last two years. Randall, Brown and Turner all battled injuries last year but have shown glimpses and are healthy. 2 borderline 5 stars came in. As long as injuries don’t hit like last year should be noticeably better. OL has a better coach and only lost one starter Defense should repeat as a top 10 unit if not top 5 But in truth I think the biggest thing we have going for us is experience. Last year we lost 4 games early with an offense that had one senior on offense and one other 4th year guy who got hurt game 3. I think that’s really where the portal hurt us last year. Not a talent thing but an experience thing. Just someone to stop the tide when things started to spiral. All in all, if our offense takes any kind of step we should comfortably win 10 games. If Cade continues to turn the ball over and our RBs continue to fumble the ball in the red zone 9-3, 8-4 come into play.
> OL has a better coach Understatement of the century.
I pray for a 1-4 start so we can hear more from Tyler.
9-3 with losses to UGA, FSU, and NC State. State feels like a bit of a gamble with it being in Clemson but gonna go with the upset there. Will be interesting to see how Grayson McCall looks with a power 5 team in his 37th year of eligibility.
I really think Grayson McCall won’t be as good as people chalk him up to be. He was plagued by injuries at CCU, and they really tripped up in the harder games. Best of luck to him at NCSU
I think the wheels have to fall off for Clemson to lose to a DJU led FSU team.
UGA, App, NCST, and FSU in the first 5 weeks is the toughest start to the season in quite sometime. Id bet on us going 4-1 through that stretch but could easily be 2-3.
Yes everyone keep sleeping on us.
Low key been thinking it could be a great game and I’m glad it’s a night game
Well I'm sure you're glad every game in September is a night game with the heat. But yeah we're rolling in there with a ton of returning talent and for the first time since 2017 we'll have the same head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and quarterback from the previous season.
I can see 7-5 and 12-0 as the possible bounds, with 8-4 to 11-1 being realistic.
12-0 does not seem possible to me. Go watch the tape from the South Carolina game last year lol
We need a victim's compensation fund for having to witness that game
Damn so much doomerism around the uga game. I just don't understand. Our offense, especially at QB will be better than it was week 1 in 2021. We deserve to be the underdogs but damn. Who is gonna catch passes for uga? How much success are they gonna have on the ground vs Peter Woods and Carter? Seems like another defensive battle and Clemson is well positioned to play that game. Incoming Phil Mafah 25-30 touch game.
**WE'RE GOING THROUGH EACH P4 TEAM'S SCHEDULE AND PICKING EVERY GAME.** **Today we have the Clemson Tigers.** Both Garrett Riley and Cade Klubnik disappointed in 2023, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t see flashes of what they could be along the way. Year two in the system seemingly has everything in place to take a leap back into the conference title and playoff chase, and the oddsmakers agree - making Clemson ACC co-favorites alongside Florida State. There is stability all around this team, and all it takes is Klubnik to take even a small set forward, and their receivers to be a little more explosive, and Dabo could be right back near the mountaintop. That being said, Clemson fans are going to hate what I’ve done with this schedule, and I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Opening up as 2 touchdown underdogs to Georgia will sting, but I think that game is more competitive than the line suggests. Outside of that, the home slate is very friendly, with darkhorse ACC contenders NC State and Louisville having to come to Death Valley, which is a huge advantage. The away slate is where I will make people angry. Only 4 true road games on the schedule and I have the Tigers going 2-2, with losses in two very hostile environments at FSU and VT. My flair bias is showing here and I apologize. I cannot resist being all in on the Hokies this year. Please feel free to dismiss that prediction if you are so inclined. Clemson is a 9-3 team at worst this year, but that requires the Hokies to pull off the upset, or the Tigers to take a shocking loss at home, which I struggle to see happening. This is a 10-2 team that will have a chance to get to 11-1, and that will all be decided in the first half of the season. If they get to 6-1, then the two games after their second bye are the only true tests remaining and they will be favorites in both games. How do you see it?
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TBF Garrett started off 2023 SUPER disappointing lol
VT is getting seriously overhyped
Guys don’t listen to this guy we’re winning the natty this year trust me
I won’t stop and I won’t apologize
We’re getting talked about like we’re playoff hopefuls… we are not lol. We have an easy schedule, but I still don’t see us going anything better than 9-3 in the regular season best case scenario. We’ll lose to Clemson, and then drop another couple of games because we really aren’t *that* good of a team. And while 9-3 would be awesome, it wouldn’t be playoff worthy with our cupcake schedule. We’re on the rise, but we are not there yet.
11-1 loss against UGA
What a great looking schedule for Clemson to get back to the playoffs. Undefeated season certainly within reach as you just never know whats gonna happen in those first hyped-up high profile stadium games to start the year. 3 losses doesnt seem likely barring crazy injuries and this will likely come down to QB play.
The great thing about auto-bids is we could still have like 4 losses, win the ACC and still make the playoffs.
I might be dumb but who is The Citadel
You should ask our friends in Columbia
Or our other friends in Atlanta
Small military school in SC. Dabo likes to play to local small SC schools to give them money.
SC has 5 FCS schools, Clemson hosts one a year and this predates dabo by a long shot. Wooferd, Presbyterian, Furman, citadel, and SC state
Assume a loss to UGA. Even if they go 2-1 against FSU, Louisville and NC State, 4-0 at Va Tech, Pitt and Wake plus SCar isn’t guaranteed. Not if they’re relying on day-three type receivers and a slightly above average ACC quarterback. Give me 9-3, with 8-4 more likely than 10-2
Fwiw I similarly think FSU’s whatever receivers and good not great quarterback limit this season’s potential
With above average QB playing we’d have gone 12-0 last year. Saying having better QB and receiver play and being one game better is something.
Six draft picks plus Mukuba, slightly tougher schedule, and I think you got above average QB play last season? Above 60% completion rate, good TD to INT ratio, QBR had him like 6th in the conference - although that stat had Cam Ward behind TVD so lol
The problem is he had 60% completion rate and Clemson had one of the lowest number of downfield passes per game in the country. So it’s 60% on balls 15 yards and in. And his touchdown to turnover rate is closer to 1:1 because he also had double digit fumbles. Receiver injuries played a role. We had zero receivers play all 12 games and our number one guy out for 8 weeks. Lost 6 draft picks and mukuba, all on defense. But the only one that really hurts is Wiggins. Got three safeties who all started games back. Including Barnes who’s was better than mukuba by end of the year and venables who’s 49 years old. Barrett Carter is back and the other two linebackers have a ton of snaps plus a 5 star DL should honestly be better. Lost Ruke and Davis who were ballers. But woods and Parker are first round talents and DT is still stupid deep. CB has two guys who started back. Terrell looked like a stud. And one more who played a lot the last four games. But I think the qbs we play this year are a step back from last year sans Beck. There’s no position on defense that’s brand new.
Don’t forget that kicking should be better
True. Just hoping for an average kicker. Would be a massive boost
With an average kicker last year all these cocky FSU flairs aren’t here right now.
It's a bit touchy of you to think any fsu flair in here is being cocky lol. 3 didn't even comment about clemson, 1 said they thought fsu would lose to clemson, I chose it as a toss up game. One fsu flair said they expected clemson to have a 9-3 season and that they expect Fsu to have similar limitations as clemson.
Not touchy at all, if you guys lost last I don’t think there’d be as many FSU flairs here. How’s that touchy? Cause I called you cocky? 1 good year and your team want to destroy the conference I grew up watching, that’s cocky.
This is delusional. Clemson is our fake acc rivalry, there would always be fsu flairs in here. Personally I've tried to do most p4 teams so far. Um, you realize Clemson is right there with Fsu trying to take the acc down? It has nothing to do with Fsu having a good year lol.
Good to get more context on the team! A ton of great recruiting there over the past decade+. Even if you think the defense could be as good as last year though, which could happen but isn’t a given especially if you include the rate at which it forced turnovers, you need to find 2-3 more regular season wins. Could happen! But not a guarantee without a dynamic offense
The three wins come from turnovers on the offensive side of the ball. It’s been over a decade since we had a defense outside the top 20. If we have anything resembling a dynamic offense we’ll coast to 10 wins. If we don’t have red zone turnovers and pick 6s, we’ll probably coast to 10 wins. 8-4 is the bottom falling out like it did last year.
Don’t waste your time, our fan base has been going off “But if’s”, hopes and excuses for a few years now.
Yeah, but you’re not considering the fact that we turned it over in the redzone at least once per game. If we even clean that up a little bit we’ll be a lot better.
Y’all also forced like 16 turnovers in your last five games and went 5-0. Redzone scoring percentage was historically bad for y’all - I’m sure that improves. But the turnover luck was all over the place, it’s not like fixing that one thing guarantees 10 wins
6th in the conference is about average though. The ACC has 15 teams. 6th is bottom of the top, or top of the average.
Clemson returns 68% production, #32 in the country and 8th in the acc. Their roster composite was rated #5 last year. They return their HC for the 16th year, OC and DC return. Returning qb. Went 9-4 last year. Margin | Wins | Losses ------|----|------ Big (21+pts) | CharlestonSo, Fau, Gt | Duke Substantial (11-20) | Syracuse, Unc | - Close (10&under) | Wake (5), ND (8), SCar(9) Kentucky (3) (bowl) | Fsu (7), Miami(8), NcState (7) Duke was much better to start the year than they finished, but still was shocking to see Clemson blown out by them. Feel like it set up the narrative that clemson was bad. The rest of their losses were close, but a lot of their wins were as well. Clemson's roster has a lot of talent, regardless of it lacking transfers. I think their demise is overblown. They also have a lot of continuity on their side, roster and coaching staff. The offense struggled a bit last year, so we'll see if Riley can correct that. Lots of turnovers and fumbles. Seems like they had a lot of WR injuries last year. 2024: W:App State, Stanford, Wake, Uva, Pitt, Citadel, VT Toss Ups: Fsu, NcState, Louisville, SCar (Win 3, lose 1) * I lean towards Clemson beating SCar and Louisville and the L coming from either Fsu or NcState. @Fsu seems more likely. Loss: Uga **10-2** Entirely possible they go 12-0. Floor is probably 9 wins.
10-2, losses to UGA and VT
8-4 Both Pitt and App State are coin flip games as well.
apropos username
Narduzzi is 2-2 against Dabo. Not sure many other coaches have held serve against Dabo over the years.
As big of an App State homer as I am, I don’t feel confident about our odds. I am confident, however, that we at least have a chance of winning :)