Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program had a much-needed bye week in Week 3 after their wild start to the 2024 season.
Week 1 was about as brutal as it gets for a team like Clemson. A 34-3 loss to the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs was a tough pill to swallow for the team and fans, but the Tigers recovered as well as they could the next week.
In Week 2 against Appalachian State, Swinney’s team elevated their play and took the next step in the right direction with a ridiculous 66-20 win over the Mountaineers. Clemson scored 56 first half points in the matchup, with starting quarterback Cade Klubnik scoring seven first half touchdowns.
Following their Week 3 bye, ESPN updated their SP+ rankings heading into Week 4 (subscription required). Clemson ranked No. 21 here, with the No. 22 ranked offense and No. 31 ranked defense. The Tigers are the third-highest-ranked ACC team, with Miami flying up to No. 9 and Louisville at No. 16.
I still believe Clemson is the best team of the three and has a lot of season left to prove it.