Clemson football: Rivals discusses if Miami can push Tigers in 2021

The Clemson football program has dominated the ACC for more than a half-decade now and there doesn’t seem to be anything in the way of that dominance continuing over the next few seasons, either.

As we head into 2021, fans and analysts are still looking for a legitimate competitor to rise up against the Tigers.

Rivals’ National Columnist Mike Farrell posted his latest feature on ‘Fact or Fiction’ and discussed several topics surrounding the world of College Football, including a topic that has to do with the Clemson football program.

The prompt: Miami will win 10 games next season and push Clemson.

What Farrell had to say about it:

"FICTION. With Alabama on the schedule things don’t look good for a 10-win season. The Hurricanes’ weakness along the offensive and defensive lines make me think they will contend for a division title but not for 10 wins or push Clemson if they make it to the ACC title game. I checked with the Miami fans at Gary Ferman’s War Room message board on Canesport.com as well and most agreed, although a few felt this team could surprise. I have Miami second in the Coastal."

Clemson football shouldn’t be concerned about Miami. North Carolina presents much more of a challenge

As much as Miami wants to continuously believe that ‘it’s back,’ the truth is that there’s nothing showing down there in that program to believe they can consistently compete in the ACC, at least not yet.

Miami finished the 2020 season with an 8-3 overall record and lost to Clemson by a score of 42-17. Though the Hurricanes have some veterans returning- headlined by QB D’Eriq King assuming he can rehab a knee injury- they also lose their top pass-rushers and have some serious holes to fill defensively. Oh, and it’s not as if King has all that many options to get the ball out to either.

We also shouldn’t forget that Miami was bludgeoned 62-26 by the North Carolina Tar Heels late in the 2020 season, either. If we were going to pick a team that might be able to push Clemson, that program up in Chapel Hill looks to be the team most ready to do so.

Miami will struggle to finish second in the ACC Coastal Division and there won’t be any talk of the Hurricanes pushing the Tigers this season, at least not in our opinion.

Instead, this prompt should’ve been directed towards UNC. That, at least, could be a conversation of some kind.