Clemson Football: 3 reasons the Tigers will make the playoff in 2023

Clemson football finished 2022 with an 11-3 record and as ACC champions once again as they ran the table in conference play, but it was no doubt a disappointing season for Tiger fans as they have grown used to championship contention over the past few seasons.

Tiger Nation has been a bit spoiled the past few years with Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence under center leading to two national titles in a short span.

The transition from Lawrence to DJ Uiagalelei was a bumpy road for the Tigers. Thankfully, Cade Klubnik got the opportunity to show what he can do later in the season. Klubnik put together a couple of very impressive performances, and while his experience is little, the Tigers take some momentum and optimism about the potential of the offense into the 2023 season.

The ACC schedule has posed one or two challenges per year for Clemson over the past several seasons, and 2023 should be no different. Things seem to be lining up for Florida State to be a solid contender for an ACC title, and North Carolina brings a high-powered offense led by quarterback Drake Maye. South Carolina beat Clemson in a heartbreaker last season, and that will be the final game of the regular season. The Gamecocks will be tough again, and this game could be an important one for the Tigers to get.

Although these teams have the opportunity to stand in the way of Clemson winning the ACC yet again and potentially finding its way back into the playoff picture, things seem to be shaping up nicely for the Tigers to make a nice run at another title.

There are a few reasons, in particular, why I expect Clemson to be among the four teams in the CFP at the end of the season.