Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football crew had a solid 2023, but the Tigers and their fans were hoping for more.
Finishing the season with an exciting 38-35 triumph in the Gator Bowl against Kentucky is a great way to wrap things up, but the overall 9-4 record, including a 4-4 standing in the ACC, has left some disappointed. It’s not that it was a bad season for Swinney and the Tigers; it just wasn’t great.
Following the 2023 season, USA TODAY Sports handed out rankings for all 133 college football FBS teams. Clemson earned a B- for their performance this season, which is a fair grade considering the circumstances.
Heading into the season, the Tigers had National Championship aspirations. While they were far from the favorites, the path was seemingly there for the program. Those aspirations ended quickly as the Tigers lost their opener to Duke. Starting the season 4-4, things looked bad for Swinney’s team.
Even when things looked bad, they didn’t give up and had an excellent run to end their season. Clemson won their final five games of the season, with big wins coming over Notre Dame, UNC, South Carolina, and Kentucky. This run saved the Tigers from a far worse grade and helped them end the season on a high note.
Definitely a fair grade for this Clemson team that played below expectations but recovered tremendously.