Clemson Football: ESPN FPI undersells Tiger offense in 2020

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 01: A general view of sunrise reflecting off the stands and oculus at Clemson Memorial Stadium prior to the Clemson Tigers' football game against the Furman Paladins on September 1, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 01: A general view of sunrise reflecting off the stands and oculus at Clemson Memorial Stadium prior to the Clemson Tigers' football game against the Furman Paladins on September 1, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)

The Clemson football offense is going to be one of the best in the nation this season, but ESPN’s FPI is underselling the unit heading into 2020.

The 2020 Clemson football team is considered the odds-on favorite to win the National Championship this season.

One of the main reasons the Tigers are favorites to get back to the CFB Playoff has to do with the amount of talent they return on the offensive side of the ball.

Clemson boasts NFL talent all over the field, including players like Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Justyn Ross, Amari Rodgers, Braden Galloway and many others. With that amount of talent returning, there’s nothing that will stop Clemson football from scoring a lot of points.

Despite the amount of talent returning, ESPN’s FPI projected the Tiger offense third in the nation behind both Ohio State and Alabama.

There is plenty of talent returning at Ohio State- led by Justin Fields and the majority of their offensive line- and there’s certainly a small question with Clemson because the Tigers have to replace four starters on the offensive line, but I’m just not sure how you can look at the amount of talent Clemson has and put any other offense ahead of them.

Alabama is replacing its starting quarterback- Tua Tagovailoa, maybe you’ve heard of him. Ohio State loses J.K. Dobbins, K.J. Hill and Binjimen Victor.

The Tigers have two Heisman contenders in Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne returning. There is plenty of talent at the wide receiver position and even though they’re having to replace offensive linemen, there’s plenty of talent and experience ready to step in.

It will be interesting to see what happens during the 2020 season, but I don’t think any offense can be considered ahead of Clemson with the exception of possibly Ohio State right now- and that’s an argument that can be made for either side.

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