Until further notice, Clemson is the team to beat in the top tier of powerhouses hoping to reach the next College Football Playoff. There was nothing this spring to indicate that the Tigers are going to fall off their perch atop the ACC, and Dabo Swinney and his staff are certainly highly motivated to justify their latest bump in salaries over the offseason.
With Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne still in the Tigers backfield, Tee Higgins and Amari Rogers at wide receiver, and freshmen Frank Ladson and Joe Ngata also stepped up at the position in the spring game. They join 17 early enrollees that will fortify an already strong nucleus of talent.
Clemson does have to replace some key cogs on defense, including first-round NFL Draft picks Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, and Dexter Lawrence just from the defensive line. But given the strength of recent Tigers recruiting classes, reloading should be no issue in the ACC race.
A non-conference game at Texas A&M and the season-ending state rivalry with South Carolina offer two opportunities for statements against SEC opponents. Another perfect season is imminently possible for this program as they hunt for a fifth straight College Football Playoff appearance.