ESPN’s updated SP+ rankings after Week 7 of the college football season saw the Clemson Tigers on the move again.
Clemson (5-1 overall, 4-0 ACC) rose one spot to No. 11 overall after their 49-14 victory over Wake Forest Saturday in Winston-Salem.
Clemson’s offense climbed six spots to No. 11 in the rankings with a 36.8 rating. The Tigers ran a season-high 85 plays in their win over the Demon Deacons and have now scored 40 or more points in four of their last five games.
The defense rose three spots to No. 20 with an 18.1 rating after holding Wake Forest to 233 yards and only 38 net yards in the second half. The Deacs had only one first down in the half until their final possession with the outcome of the game already well in hand.
Clemson’s overall SP+ rating improved to 18.5.
The Tigers are still three spots behind the Miami Hurricanes, who rose one spot to No. 8. Mario Cristobal’s team is now rated as the third-best offense with a 42.9 rating, while their defense checks in at No. 34 with a 21.0 rating. Miami’s overall SP+ rating is 22.1.
The Texas Longhorns (30.0 overall rating) remained No. 1 in this week’s SP+ rankings, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 2. The Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 3), Ole Miss Rebels (No. 4) and Georgia Bulldogs (No. 5) rounded out the top five.
According to ESPN: “SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-pacing. It is not a résumé ranking that gives credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system is. It is simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.”
Next Up
Clemson hosts the Virginia Cavaliers in a noon ET kickoff Saturday in Death Valley. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.