The ACC media has spoken. Shortly after ACC Media Days came and went earlier in the month, all the votes were tabulated to give us something to chew on. Clemson was picked to finish in fourth place with 2,520 points and seven first-place votes. Dabo Swinney's program trailed the Miami Hurricanes (3,159 points), the SMU Mustangs (2,794 points), and the Louisville Cardinals (2,569 points) in the poll.
Here is what the ACC media believes the conference standings will look like heading into the season.
- Miami Hurricanes: 3,159 points (165 first-place votes)
- SMU Mustangs: 2,794 points (6 first-place votes)
- Louisville Cardinals: 2,569 points (4 first-place votes)
- Clemson Tigers: 2,520 points (7 first-place votes)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: 2,006 points (2 first-place votes)
- Virginia Cavaliers: 1,981 points
- North Carolina State Wolfpack: 1,964 points
- Virginia Tech Hokies: 1,962 points
- Pittsburgh Panthers: 1,740 points
- Duke Blue Devils: 1,439 points
- Florida State Seminoles: 1,439 points (3 first-place votes)
- California Golden Bears: 1,392 points
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons: 1,103 points
- Syracuse Orange: 878 points
- North Carolina Tar Heels: 831 points
- Boston College Eagles: 491 points
- Stanford Cardinal: 483 points (1 first-place vote)
Admit it, we would be lying to ourselves if we thought Clemson had an honest shot at the top billing. Miami played for a national title a year ago. Fortunately for the Clemson Tigers, the Hurricanes have never won the ACC before. Where Clemson fans may have a bone or two to pick with this polling is seeing SMU and Louisville ranked ahead of them. Neither of them has ever won the ACC before.
While it is good to see Clemson firmly situated in the top five, this is also a poll where clearly lesser teams than them in Georgia Tech, Florida State, and even lowly Stanford, got a first-place vote. This is just par for the course whenever the conference media comes together. What is most important to understand here is this poll has provided Swinney's team with plenty of motivation to just get it done.
It might pain the national media a bit, but Clemson's path into the playoffs is actually quite navigable.
Clemson Tigers picked to finish in fourth place after ACC Media Days poll
If there is any good news to glean from this sobering predicted order of finish for Clemson, it is that the Tigers will not play teams projected to finish in second or third. SMU and Louisville are not on the schedule. While Clemson does draw first-place Miami, that game will be at home. In some capacities, it might be a more winnable game than one would think. A victory there could mean a special season.
Beyond the Miami date, Clemson plays fifth-place Georgia Tech, eighth-place Virginia Tech, 10th-place Duke, 11th-place Florida State, 12th-place California, 14th-place Syracuse, and 15th-place North Carolina. If these standings somewhat hold true, Clemson could finish its ACC slate with a 7-1 record. Unfortunately, there are other teams in the league playing nine conference games this year.
So where do we go from here? Clemson needs to take it one game at a time and rise to the occasion in every game. The Tigers might be the ACC kings of the comeback, but now is not the time for them to play with their food, or even get behind the eight ball vs. lesser competition. The steadier this team can be, the better. In some ways, Swinney's reputation hinges on him having a bounce-back season.
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Right now, Clemson can look at its projected fourth-place finish as either a sign of disrespect or as an extra source of motivation. For fans, the rankings may temper expectations ever so slightly. Regardless, the goal for the Tigers this season should be to get back to Charlotte, win the ACC, and qualify for the College Football Playoff. Anything short of that goal will be met with disappointment.
We just have to take what the ACC media thinks about Clemson with a grain of salt and move forward.
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