College Football Playoff: Which Top 25 teams are contenders, pretenders?
After defeating Alabama in the national title game in January, the Clemson Tigers lost seven starters to the NFL, including star receiver Mike Williams, starting middle linebacker Ben Boulware and most importantly starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.
But head coach Dabo Swinney’s squad didn’t take much time to reload.
Even after starting the season ranked fifth in the nation in the AP poll, Clemson went on to win four consecutive games, including serious 1-2 punch against the SEC’s Auburn Tigers and ACC rival Louisville, by a combined score of 151-37, solidify itself as the best team in the ACC.
After defeating Louisville by a commanding margin of 47-21, and the loss of Florida State’s sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois to a knee injury in Week 1, the Tigers’ pathway to the ACC Championship Game looks incredibly clear.
The team’s offense, led by first-year starting quarterback Kelly Bryant, has picked right back up where Watson’s squad left off, and has kept the Tigers in every game so far this season.
And on defense, Clemson has been even better.
The Tigers’ defensive line, affectionately called the power rangers, has amassed an astounding 17 sacks in only four games, good for the second-best mark in the nation behind only Michigan.
With only one ranked opponent, No. 12 Virginia Tech, left on its schedule, Swinney’s squad should be able to cruise through its conference slate and into a spot in the playoff again.