Clemson Football: Athlon Sports ranks Tigers No. 2 in the nation

Athlon Sports released its preseason rankings and predictions for the upcoming 2019 season. Here’s where Clemson football fell, according to the publication.

Athlon Sports released its predictions and rankings for the upcoming College Football season this week.

Though College Football is still a few months away, it’s never too early to begin looking at how teams will shape up heading into the new season.

To no one’s surprise, Clemson football is one of the favorites to get back to the CFB Playoff and to compete for the National Championship.

According to Athlon, though, the Tigers will fall short in 2019 to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Here’s a look at the projected top 10 from the publication.

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU
8. Florida
9. Notre Dame
10. Texas A&M

Early Thoughts:

Interestingly enough, Athlon doesn’t even have Texas inside its top-10. The Longhorns are the dark horse favorite by most analysts to make it to the CFB Playoff in 2019, but they are ranked No. 11 in these rankings.

Looking at the top-10, I’m surprised to see Michigan so high. The Wolverines aren’t going to be a top-four team, so don’t put any stock into that ranking. LSU, Florida and Texas A&M seem a little too lofty, as well, in these rankings.

Right now, though, the pecking order of College Football is defined. It’s Clemson, Alabama and then everybody else.

Here in the scope of the preseason, I think you have to have the Tigers No. 1 after what they did to the Tide in 2018, but there’s certainly reason for analysts on the outside looking in to doubt Clemson football after the Tigers lost several talented players like Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence to the NFL.

Even so, the Tigers return Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and a plethora of other talented players to reload and attempt to defend their title.