The first major preseason poll has arrived, and it's already fueling a fiery debate on ESPN's airwaves. While the Clemson Tigers landed safely in the top 10 at No. 6, prominent analysts Heather Dinich and Paul Finebaum agree that the Tigers are underrated, though Finebaum has a stark warning for Dabo Swinney's squad based on their recent struggles against the SEC.
Appearing on Get Up, Dinich was emphatic in her praise for the Tigers' potential. "Clemson is underrated," she exclaimed. "Why are we not talking more about the Clemson Tigers and Dabo Swinney? This is the year. They have all the pieces in place to return to national relevance in the College Football Playoff and make a deep run." Dinich highlighted that quarterback Cade Klubnik is a projected No. 1 pick in ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid's latest mock draft, and that the team boasts "one of the best defensive lines in the country and multiple receivers to throw it to."
Finebaum, while agreeing with the "underrated" label, tempered his praise with a harsh dose of reality that will resonate with SEC fans. "Clemson is outstanding. I think they are underrated, but the problem with Clemson is that they lost to Georgia badly at the beginning of last year. They lost, at home, to South Carolina. They looked average in their playoff game (at Texas), so it's hard to wrap one's arm around them right now," Finebaum stated.
His comments point to a critical weakness in Clemson's 2024 season: an 0-3 record against SEC teams, with a combined score of 89-41 in favor of their opponents. This includes a lopsided 34-3 loss to Georgia, a gut-wrenching 17-14 defeat to South Carolina, and a 38-24 playoff loss to Texas where the offense, according to Finebaum, "looked average."
The high stakes for this Clemson team couldn't be clearer. Their No. 6 ranking, which includes two crucial first-place votes, positions them just outside the top five, but their brutal Week 1 opener against No. 9 LSU on August 30th will be the ultimate test of Finebaum's skepticism. If Clemson can defeat the Bayou Bengals in Death Valley, it would go a long way toward proving that their recent SEC woes are a thing of the past and that Dinich's confidence in their national title potential is well-founded.
The debate is set, the polls are out, and the season's first huge game is on the horizon. Can Clemson prove its toughness against the SEC and live up to the national hype? All eyes are on Dabo Swinney and his Tigers.