A Week 1 Reality Check
Clemson entered the season as a unanimous preseason Playoff pick at ESPN. One game later—a 17–10 home loss to No. 9 LSU—and that picture is suddenly cloudy. The Tigers are missing from four of ESPN’s Playoff projection ballots, with only Max Olson still seeing them as a potential Top-4 automatic-bid team.
Dinich: “First Team Out”
ESPN’s Heather Dinich did her own projection and placed Clemson as the last team out—ranked behind the Top 12 power-conference teams plus Notre Dame (with at least one Group of 5 team required). Her Top 5: LSU, Ohio State, Miami, Penn State, Florida State, with South Carolina grabbing the final CFP spot from a power league.
The Why: One-Dimensional Offense
Dinich’s critique was blunt: Clemson wasn’t punished for losing to an elite opponent; it was the manner of the loss. The Tigers’ backs combined for 31 rushing yards (1.6 YPC), leaving Cade Klubnik to shoulder everything. To climb back in, the QB has to be better—and soon.
Must-Win Stakes vs. South Carolina
Circle the rivalry. If the ACC’s auto bid heads to Miami or Tallahassee, beating South Carolina becomes non-negotiable. ESPN’s FPI gives the Gamecocks a 66.5% chance, and Clemson is 0–4 vs. SEC teams since the start of last season—context that’s hard to ignore in September.
Bottom Line
Clemson’s margin for error just got razor thin. Clean up the run game, elevate Klubnik, and flip the South Carolina result—and the Tigers are right back in the Playoff conversation. Stumble again, and the hype train is officially off the tracks.