Last year's playoff loss to Texas left a bitter taste in Clemson's mouth. The sting of that 38-24 first-round exit has become the fuel for a team that believes it's on the cusp of greatness. And they're not shy about their goal.
"We know what we want. It’s a National Championship," declared redshirt sophomore receiver Cole Turner, his words ringing with conviction. "Didn’t finish how we wanted to last year. I think that adversity really just makes you push harder."
That push is happening every single day in the sweltering heat of training camp. Head coach Dabo Swinney's message is simple and has become the team's rallying cry: "Nothing is going to be given to us... you got to earn it."
Unleashing 'Two Waves of Terror'
For Turner, "earning it" means returning to the explosive form he flashed as a rookie. Now fully recovered from a 2023 abductor injury, he says he's feeling better than ever. "It’s probably one of the best I felt going into a camp," Turner said.
He's not alone. The Tigers' receiver room is so loaded with talent that Turner has a nickname for them: the "two waves of terror."
"Obviously, we have a lot of depth in that room. We got dudes who can play every position," Turner explained. "It’s just no fall-off when the next group goes in or whatever it might be."
That depth includes standout sophomore Tyler Brown, whose season was hampered by an ankle injury but is now back to pushing the pace. "He’s a great leader, pushes everybody in that receiver room to do better," Turner said of Brown. "So, he’s been great all camp. Really excited for him."
Then there's the freshman All-American, Bryant Wesco Jr., who electrified the ACC last year, averaging a stunning 17.3 yards per reception. "You know what you’re getting out of Wesco every day," Turner said. "He brings it every day. Like Tyler, he pushes me to be better. I learn stuff from him."
The Road to Redemption
After clinching a dramatic ACC Championship victory over SMU with a last-second 56-yard field goal, the Tigers tasted the new 12-team playoff format only to be sent home early. That disappointment has forged a new resolve.
The journey back, the quest for what they believe is rightfully theirs, begins with a massive primetime showdown. Clemson's path to the National Championship starts under the lights against LSU on Saturday, Aug. 30. The nation will be watching to see if the "two waves of terror" are ready to wash over college football.