Tag: Clemson 2024 Football

Clemson is second most ‘overrated’ college football team in this 2024 outlook

This college football writer doesn’t think too highly of Clemson football’s chances in 2024.

With 101 days until Week 1 of the college football season, not everyone is buying into the hype of a bounce-back season for Clemson football.

The Tigers ranked in the top 10 in USA TODAY Sports‘ way-too-early rankings for the 2024 season. CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson also sees Clemson returning as ACC champions after Florida State went 13-0 to win the conference a season ago.

But Clemson also has plenty of skeptics after a 9-4 season, even one that ended with five straight victories. Saturday Blitz’s Connor Muldowney is one of them.

In his list of the five “most overrated college football teams ahead of 2024 season,” Clemson checks in at No. 2. Only ACC rival Miami is ahead of the Tigers on that list.

Specifically, Muldowney (like many others) takes exception to Swinney’s views on the transfer portal, which the coach made headlines for again last week in an appearance on SiriusXM’s College Sports Radio.

Writes Muldowney:

“Clemson has had a pedestrian past few seasons under Dabo Swinney which is tough for fans because there was a dynasty being built pre-COVID-19. Swinney looked like he was getting ready to overtake Nick Saban as the top coach in the sport. But something changed and Swinney has failed to adjust to the times, even saying that he doesn’t use the portal because most transfers aren’t good enough to play for Clemson.

Delusional.”

While admitting that Clemson has the talent on its roster to compete for the ACC crown, Muldowney says he doesn’t see the Tigers returning to championship standards as a bonafide College Football Playoff threat.

Adds Muldowney:

“Clemson has the talent on the roster to contend for an ACC title but it just feels like the program is falling too far behind in the national race to even compete for a playoff spot. Hey, if Swinney actually utilized the portal, his team may have avoided this list, but they’re looking at another 9-10-win season, at best, in my opinion.

Is that good enough for the 10-20 range? Maybe, but I still think they need to earn that ranking.”

Clemson opens its season August 31 against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is scheduled for noon EDT. The game will be televised nationally by ABC.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and opinions.

Former Clemson QB transfers to Appalachian State; showdown with Tigers looming?

Clemson Football: The Tigers may be facing a former quarterback who donned Clemson Orange when they host Appalachian State on Sept. 7 this season.

Is a showdown between the Tigers and a former Clemson quarterback looming?

Billy Wiles, who spent two seasons in Dabo Swinney’s program after joining Clemson as a walk-on out of Stone Bridge (Va.) High School in 2021, transferred to Southern Miss after the 2022 season.

Wiles was the starting quarterback through the Golden Eagles’ first 10 games a season ago. After a seven-game losing streak that saw Wiles become part of a quarterback controversy, Wiles did not start either of USM’s final two games against Mississippi State and Troy.

He finished the season 162-of-301 with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Southern Miss finished 3-9.

Now, Wiles is on the move again. After entering the transfer portal on April 12, Wiles took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to announce that he would be staying in the Sun Belt Conference and joining Appalachian State.

The Mountaineers travel to Death Valley in Week 2 (September 7) to face Clemson. Wiles last took the field at Memorial Stadium in 2021 when he made 11 snaps under center against UConn — his only appearance in a Clemson uniform.

Clemson’s five biggest games of the 2024 schedule

A look at the five biggest and most important games of the Clemson Tigers 2024 football schedule.

Clemson players, coaches and fans alike have known which teams would be on the Tigers’ 2024 schedule for some time now.

Now that the ACC has released its 2024 football schedule in full, we know the exact dates the team will face each of their conference rivals.

2024 Clemson Football Schedule:
(Home games BOLDED; all games on Saturdays)

  • Aug. 31: vs. Georgia (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
  • Sept. 7: vs. APPALACHIAN STATE
  • Sept. 14: Open Date
  • Sept. 21: vs. NC STATE
  • Sept. 28: vs. STANFORD
  • Oct. 5: at Florida State
  • Oct. 12: at Wake Forest
  • Oct. 19: vs. VIRGINIA
  • Oct. 26: Open Date
  • Nov. 2: vs. LOUISVILLE
  • Nov. 9: at Virginia Tech
  • Nov. 16: at Pitt
  • Nov. 23: vs. THE CITADEL
  • Nov. 30: vs. SOUTH CAROLINA

In no particular order, here’s an early look at the five biggest games on the 2024 schedule. Kickoff times are yet to be determined.

Full 2024 ACC football schedule set for January 24 reveal

The ACC announced in an official press release on Friday that it would move up the full release of its 2024 football schedule to Wednesday, Jan. 24 in a special two-hour broadcast beginning at 5 p.m. EST on ACC Network and ESPN2. The two-hour …

The ACC announced in an official press release on Friday that it would move up the full release of its 2024 football schedule to Wednesday, Jan. 24 in a special two-hour broadcast beginning at 5 p.m. EST on ACC Network and ESPN2.

The two-hour special will be hosted by ACC Network’s Kelsey Riggs and features analysts like EJ Manuel, Eddie Royal, and Mark Richt. Week 1 of the ACC schedule will be revealed two days ahead of the planned ACC Network/ESPN2 special on Monday, with exclusive Thursday and Friday night games set to be announced the following day at 4 p.m. EST.

For the first time since 2014, the ACC will be welcoming new some new members. Cal, Stanford and SMU will officially join the conference this summer after seismic shifts in conference realignment.

With the additions of those schools, the ACC will feature a total of 68 conference matchups in 2024, up from 56. The two teams with the best conference records will again meet at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium in the ACC Championship Game on the first Saturday in December.

What We Already Know About Clemson’s 2024 Schedule

When the ACC announced its future scheduling plans back in October, they announced 16 protected matchups. One of those is Clemson vs. Florida State. The two teams will meet in Tallahassee later this year after the Seminoles snapped a seven-game losing streak against Clemson with a 31-24 overtime victory in Death Valley last year.

With the exception of the shortened 2020 season, Clemson and Florida State have met every year since the Seminoles joined the ACC in 1992.

Clemson is also scheduled for road trips to Wake Forest, Pitt, and Virginia Tech. Additionally, the Tigers will host Virginia, North Carolina State, Louisville, and for the first time in school history, Stanford. The Tigers and Cardinal have met only once before — the 1986 Gator Bowl, a 27-21 Clemson victory.

Also on the schedule in 2024 is the season-opening contest against Georgia in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It will be the fourth meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs since 2013. Home games against Appalachian State and The Citadel are scheduled for Sept. 7 and Nov. 23, respectively.

The annual Palmetto Bowl showdown against South Carolina is scheduled for Nov. 30 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. The Tigers have won eight of the last nine meetings vs. the Gamecocks and lead the all-time series, 73-43-4.

Clemson outside the Top 15 of Sporting News’ way-too-early Top 25 for 2024 season

Clemson is outside the top 15 but should be ranked higher.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson’s football team had a good 2023, but the Tigers and their fans hoped for even more.

Wrapping up the season with an exciting 38-35 victory in the Gator Bowl against Kentucky is a fantastic way to finish, but the overall 9-4 record, including 4-4 in the ACC, leaves some feeling slightly disappointed. Now that the 2023 season is over, everyone is turning their attention to what Clemson might be like in the upcoming 2024 season.

The 2024 season is a long way out, but that doesn’t stop outlets from predicting early Top 25 rankings for the season. According to Sporting News’ way too early top 25, Clemson isn’t a top 15 team. The Tigers rank No.16 for the outlet.

Clemson did not make the College Football Playoff the last three seasons, but the Tigers still averaged 10 wins per year in that stretch. Dabo Swinney is still is sticking with his approach – the Tigers lost 10 players to the transfer portal including safety Andrew Mukuba, who went to Texas. Cade Klubnik is back, and the Tigers still have enough depth through recruiting to win the ACC and make some noise in the new 12-team format. It’s on Swinney to get this program back in the national championship hunt. The Chick-fil-A Kickoff game against Georgia (Aug. 31) is a chance to prove it.

This feels a bit low for Clemson with the talent they have returning. The Tigers’ offense certainly needs to take the next step, but they are expected to do so with Garrett Riley entering his second full season as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator.

Right now, this is too low for the Tigers.

Clemson outside the Top 15 of Sporting News’ way-too-early Top 25 for 2024 season

Clemson is outside the top 15 but should be ranked higher.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson’s football team had a good 2023, but the Tigers and their fans hoped for even more.

Wrapping up the season with an exciting 38-35 victory in the Gator Bowl against Kentucky is a fantastic way to finish, but the overall 9-4 record, including 4-4 in the ACC, leaves some feeling slightly disappointed. Now that the 2023 season is over, everyone is turning their attention to what Clemson might be like in the upcoming 2024 season.

The 2024 season is a long way out, but that doesn’t stop outlets from predicting early Top 25 rankings for the season. According to Sporting News’ way too early top 25, Clemson isn’t a top 15 team. The Tigers rank No.16 for the outlet.

Clemson did not make the College Football Playoff the last three seasons, but the Tigers still averaged 10 wins per year in that stretch. Dabo Swinney is still is sticking with his approach – the Tigers lost 10 players to the transfer portal including safety Andrew Mukuba, who went to Texas. Cade Klubnik is back, and the Tigers still have enough depth through recruiting to win the ACC and make some noise in the new 12-team format. It’s on Swinney to get this program back in the national championship hunt. The Chick-fil-A Kickoff game against Georgia (Aug. 31) is a chance to prove it.

This feels a bit low for Clemson with the talent they have returning. The Tigers’ offense certainly needs to take the next step, but they are expected to do so with Garrett Riley entering his second full season as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator.

Right now, this is too low for the Tigers.