It’s been four, going on five years since the Tigers made it to the playoffs, and Athlon Sports believes it will be at least another year before Clemson Football gets a shot, even with the new expansion.
In their 2024 college football bowl projections, Athlon has Clemson playing Oklahoma State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (formerly the Cheez-It Bowl) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
The Tigers have participated in the bowl game four times since its inception. They’re 3-1 all-time, with the one loss coming in Clemson’s first appearance (called the Tangerine Bowl then) to Texas Tech in 2002. They have since beaten Colorado (2005 Champs Sports Bowl), 19-10, Oklahoma (2015 Russel Athletic Bowl), 40-6, and Iowa State (2021 Cheez-It Bowl, 20-13.
If the matchup were to happen, it would be the first meeting between Oklahoma State and Clemson.
Here is the projected college football playoff via Athlon:
First Round
No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 9 Michigan
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Notre Dame
No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Penn State
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama (Sugar Bowl)
No. 4 Utah vs. No. 5 Oregon (Fiesta Bowl)
No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 6 Texas (Peach Bowl)
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Ole Miss (Rose Bowl)
College Football Playoff Semifinals
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 5 Oregon (Orange Bowl)
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Texas (Cotton Bowl)
National Championship
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 2 Ohio State