Clemson Football: How would the Tiger fare in the SEC?

How would Clemson football fare if it were put in the Southeastern Conference with a schedule similar to some of its nonconference foes?

I know we’re in the midst of Clemson football season  and there are much better things to talk about, but I’ve been swamped lately from opposing fans and fellow analysts from outside the program talking about the Tigers.

Through three games, I’ll be the first to admit that this team has not been world beaters to this point.

But, I also wouldn’t go as far as to say things like “they’re not an elite team” or “they’re good, but not great.”

Here’s the one I get more than anything: “If Clemson were in the SEC, they’d lose two, three, maybe even four games.”

So, I decided to take a look at this myth that if the Tigers were in such a vaunted conference like the SEC that they’d be a mediocre team because of the grind of the conference and how tough it is week-to-week.

Clemson in the SEC East…

Let’s assume that the Tigers would have an SEC East schedule. It wouldn’t make since to place them in the west, obviously.

That means Clemson would have division games against Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. They would have two games against SEC West opponents, perhaps Texas A&M and LSU. Or maybe Bama and Mississippi State.

In the division, though, I can only find but one game that could be a loss. That would be the game against Georgia. The Bulldogs are playing solid football right now and it would definitely be a fun game to watch.

In the cross-over games, who are the teams that could put together a game against Clemson? Texas A&M, Alabama of course, LSU and possibly Auburn or Mississippi State.  You’d be joking to say that Ole Miss or Arkansas could even hold a candle next to the Tigers.

So, how would the Tigers fare? Well, they already beat Texas A&M on their home field when they threw the kitchen sink at them. There’s no team in the East- other than Georgia- that would have any chance against them. As a matter of fact, some of those east teams would be easier outs for Clemson than the teams in the ACC Atlantic- excluding Florida State, of course. The Seminoles are bad.

Basically, that leaves a showdown with Georgia for the division and then a game against Alabama for the SEC Championship, which most experts consider to be a toss-up. The truth of the matter is that Clemson does benefit from playing in the ACC and being the one premiere program in the league.

But, if the Tigers joined the SEC, it would be no tougher on them from the “grind it out” of the week-to-week. It would be tougher on them because the SEC has two premiere programs- Alabama and Georgia. That means there would be two other blue-bloods to deal with. But, that has nothing to do with the rest of the conference.

The truth of the matter is that you SEC flag wavers have ridden the coattails of the Crimson Tide for so long, you’ve convinced yourself that Alabama’s success has to do with the quality of your league.

Let’s not forget that the Tigers are 8-3 since 2014 against the SEC and those three losses have come to just two teams: Georgia and Alabama. They have wins over teams like South Carolina, LSU, Alabama and Auburn.

I have no objections that the SEC is better than the ACC this year, but those of you saying that the Tigers would have “three losses” with an SEC schedule are just being ridiculous. You’ve got some solid teams, but let’s not forget what just happened to those “solid teams” outside of Georgia and Alabama during bowl season.

Only time will tell how good Clemson football is this season, but the Tigers could compete in any league with any schedule. They’re one of the best programs in the nation and nothing’s going to change that.