Clemson football is gearing up for its first College Football Playoff appearance since 2020, and defensive lineman Peter Woods says the Tigers are fueled by a fierce determination to make their mark.
“This is my first-ever playoff,” Woods said Monday. “We’re hungry. Nobody on this team has ever won a national championship, and that’s driving us. It’s part of Clemson’s history, but now we want to make it part of our story.”
The Tigers have embraced an “us against the world” mindset as they prepare for Saturday’s playoff opener against Texas. Entering as the No. 12 seed and a double-digit underdog, Clemson thrives on proving doubters wrong.
“Everybody knows people don’t want us here,” Woods said. “But we take that as a compliment. We wear it proudly. It doesn’t change how we prepare day-to-day, but it’s always in the back of our minds. Being counted out pushes us.”
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney believes his team hasn’t played its best football yet, and Woods agrees.
“We haven’t had a full four-quarter game, and that’s what makes us dangerous,” Woods said. “If we put it all together, that’s when we’ll be at our best.”
Clemson heads to Austin with a chip on its shoulder and a chance to show just how hungry it is to return to championship glory.