Tag: heather dinich

Heather Dinich includes Texas in preseason bold predictions

Texas was mentioned on ESPN’s “Get Up” in their boldest college football predictions.

Once again, Texas is a highlight of talking season. Heading into August, more and more people are predicting aspects of the college football season.

Among the predictions, Heather Dinich picked Utah to make the College Football Playoff. Utah is led by former Texas transfer Cam Rising, who is set to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this year.

Elsewhere, Dinich predicted Nick Saban would quell the trash talk between Alabama and Texas A&M with an emphatic victory over Jimbo Fisher.

Finally, Dinich said Texas could be the most improved team this year. Having won only five games last year, there is plenty of room for improvement. The college football writer had the following to say about the Longhorns.

Texas, I think they are going to be the most improved team in the country. I am not saying that Texas is back. We’re gonna ditch that cliche. No, Texas is not back, but I say they win at least eight games.

Should they put it all together, Texas has the ability to compete with Nebraska and others for the biggest turnaround this season.

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ESPN’s Dinich on Clemson’s path to the College Football Playoff

Heather Dinich, who covers the College Football Playoff for ESPN, recently took a look at the path to the College Football Playoff (subscription required) for the top 10 teams in ESPN’s preseason FPI (Football Power Index). Dinich broke down how …

Heather Dinich, who covers the College Football Playoff for ESPN, recently took a look at the path to the College Football Playoff (subscription required) for the top 10 teams in ESPN’s preseason FPI (Football Power Index).

Dinich broke down how each team can make the playoff, what its chances are according to ESPN’s FPI and AllState Playoff Predictor, and how the CFP selection committee will evaluate it.

Clemson, which is No. 4 in the preseason FPI, has a 59 percent chance to win the ACC according to ESPN, while its Playoff Predictor gives the Tigers a 59 percent chance to make the CFP and a 26 percent chance to  make the national championship game.

Dinich notes that what the CFP selection committee won’t like when evaluating Clemson is its No. 44 strength of schedule, and she points out that of the top 12 teams in the FPI, ACC foe Pittsburgh (No. 54) is the only team ranked lower in that regard.

On the other hand, what the committee would like, Dinich says, is a perfect 4-0 nonconference record.

“Clemson shouldn’t have any problems with Furman or Louisiana Tech (especially at home),” Dinich wrote, “but if the Tigers can win at South Bend, Indiana, and beat rival South Carolina at home, they’ll have a much better case for the top four as an ACC champ. South Carolina is making strides under Shane Beamer and is a potential top 25 opponent.”

As for the biggest obstacle to the Tigers getting back to the playoff in 2022 after missing out on the action last season for the first time in seven years?

The marquee matchup at Notre Dame on Nov. 5.

“This should be Clemson’s biggest opportunity to impress the selection committee on the national stage,” Dinich wrote. “If Clemson loses this game, it can still finish in the top four with an ACC title, but it’s not a guarantee. It still depends on how the other Power 5 champions fare in similarly difficult nonconference games.”

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ESPN’s Dinich weighs in on whether Clemson’s reign in the ACC is over

ESPN Senior Writer Heather Dinich wrote an article that was published this week on what she sees as the four biggest College Football Playoff questions entering the 2022 season (subscription required). The No. 3 question that Dinich weighed in on …

ESPN Senior Writer Heather Dinich wrote an article that was published this week on what she sees as the four biggest College Football Playoff questions entering the 2022 season (subscription required).

The No. 3 question that Dinich weighed in on is, “Is Clemson’s reign in the ACC over?”

Dinich began pondering that question by pointing out that Clemson has captured the ACC Championship in seven of the past 11 years and has been an almost-annual participant in the CFP semifinals, with last season being an exception as the Tigers’ streak of six straight conference titles and six straight CFP appearances was snapped.

Dinich wonders if last season was an anomaly for Clemson or whether it was the beginning of a trend.

“On paper, Clemson doesn’t resemble anything from its past CFP-era dominance,” Dinich wrote. “Former defensive coordinator Brent Venables is now the head coach at Oklahoma, and former offensive coordinator Tony Elliott is the head coach at Virginia. Coach Dabo Swinney built his program into a national title contender by surrounding himself with elite assistants. Whether he did it again remains to be seen, as he promoted relatively unknown names from within, elevating Wes Goodwin to defensive coordinator and Brandon Streeter to offensive playcaller.”

Dinich also mentioned D.J. Uiagalelei’s struggles last season in his first full campaign as the Tigers’ starting signal-caller, when he completed only 55.6 percent of his passes while throwing more picks than touchdown passes.

“In addition to the unprecedented staff turnover, Clemson experienced a noticeable drop-off at the quarterback position, as D.J. Uiagalelei threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) in his first full season as starter,” she wrote. “If Clemson is going to regain its grip on the ACC title, it needs better, more consistent quarterback play, improvement on the offensive line, and some playmakers to emerge at wide receiver. Clemson’s inability to produce explosive passing plays was evident last fall.”

Dinich concluded by saying that NC State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and now Miami are “no longer gimme games for the Tigers,” and that with nonconference games against Furman, Louisiana Tech and South Carolina on its 2022 schedule, Clemson’s matchup at Notre Dame on Nov. 5 will be important for the Tigers to impress the CFP selection committee with a win over what figures to be the highest-ranked and perhaps the only ranked nonconference opponent they will face this season.

“Before Clemson returns to the playoff conversation, though, it has to reassert itself in its own conference,” Dinich wrote.

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ESPN’s Dinich doesn’t have confidence in Clemson

This ESPN writer/analyst is down on Clemson heading into the 2022 season. On The ESPN College Football Podcast this week, while discussing NC State head coach Dave Doeren’s new contract extension through the 2026 season, ESPN’s Heather Dinich …

This ESPN writer/analyst is down on Clemson heading into the 2022 season.

On The ESPN College Football Podcast this week, while discussing NC State head coach Dave Doeren’s new contract extension through the 2026 season, ESPN’s Heather Dinich wondered if the Wolfpack is the team to beat in the ACC in 2022.

Dinich also expressed her lack of confidence in Clemson going into next season amid all the turnover that has taken place on Dabo Swinney’s staff this offseason.

“The ACC’s Atlantic Division just blows me away right now, because we’re not talking about Clemson – we’re talking about NC State and Dave Doeren,” Dinich said. “And if there’s one team in the country that I don’t have confidence right now in, it’s Clemson because of all of the changes that they made and their staff changes and everything that’s going on with them. Is NC State really the team to beat right now?”

Clemson’s staff, of course, has undergone substantial change since the 2021 regular season ended, with Swinney having to replace both former defensive coordinator Brent Venables and former offensive coordinator Tony Elliott after they became the next head coaches at Oklahoma and Virginia, respectively.

Along with Venables and Elliott, the Tigers also lost former defensive tackles coach Todd Bates, who joined Venables’ staff at Oklahoma as the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator/run defense.

Additionally, Robbie Caldwell retired as Clemson’s offensive line coach and has been replaced by Thomas Austin, with Caldwell transitioning into an off-field role with the program as a director of high school relations.

Wes Goodwin was promoted from senior defensive assistant to defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and added the role of co-defensive coordinator for safeties coach Mickey Conn, while offensively, Clemson promoted Brandon Streeter to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Nick Eason, meanwhile, was hired from Auburn to replace Bates as the Tigers’ new defensive tackles coach.

Clemson (10-3, 6-2 ACC) finished third in the Atlantic Division in 2021 and saw its streak of six straight ACC titles and six consecutive College Football Playoff appearances come to an end, but still managed to win 10 games for an 11th straight season following a 2-2 start.

NC State (9-3, 6-2) finished second in the Atlantic behind Wake Forest (11-3, 7-1), which fell to Pittsburgh, 45-21, in the ACC Championship Game.

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ESPN tabs this Clemson game as one that will have the most College Football Playoff impact

ESPN this week published a list of 10 games that will shape the College Football Playoff next season, giving a look at the games that will have the most impact on the CFP (subscription required). Senior Writer Heather Dinich, who covers the CFP for …

ESPN this week published a list of 10 games that will shape the College Football Playoff next season, giving a look at the games that will have the most impact on the CFP (subscription required).

Senior Writer Heather Dinich, who covers the CFP for ESPN, ranked the top 10 games that will have the biggest influence on the selection committee’s final top four, in order from the greatest impact to the least.

One of Clemson’s games appeared on Dinich’s list, with the Tigers’ home contest against NC State on Oct. 1 checking in at No. 5.

Here’s what Dinich wrote about how the CFP Committee will evaluate that game, from a Clemson perspective:

Clemson is no longer a given as the ACC’s best team, so this is a critical game for the Tigers, too. Pitt won the 2021 conference title, and NC State should be a preseason favorite this fall with 19 starters returning. Clemson will have home-field advantage against NC State one week after a tricky trip to Wake Forest. Clemson’s toughest game is Nov. 5 at Notre Dame, and it ends the regular season as always, against rival South Carolina. Coach Shane Beamer has the program trending upward. Clemson’s strength of schedule won’t be much of a factor in the committee meeting room if the Tigers win the ACC and beat Notre Dame and South Carolina along the way. They’ll either need to knock off NC State or get some help along the way.

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ESPN’s Dinich gives the latest on CFP expansion talks

ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich took to Twitter on Thursday, giving the latest on College Football Playoff expansion talks. After two days of meetings in Dallas, Dinich reported that the CFP management committee plans to meet again on Dec. 1 for …

ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich took to Twitter on Thursday, giving the latest on College Football Playoff expansion talks.

After two days of meetings in Dallas, Dinich reported that the CFP management committee plans to meet again on Dec. 1 for more discussion on expansion, and that Executive Director Bill Hancock reiterated that a consensus must be reached by the end of the year in order for a new playoff format to be put in place for the 2024 season.

The biggest issue being discussed by the management committee, which is made up of 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, is whether the current four-team format should be expanded to eight or 12 teams.

A 12-team format was proposed in June but the process has since stalled, in part because Big 12 members Texas and Oklahoma being invited to (and eventually joining) the SEC has triggered a new wave of future conference realignment, which also has administrators hesitant to rush into playoff expansion.

Dinich gave the latest on where things stand with CFP expansion talks following the latest meetings in Dallas this week:

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More hate for Clemson

These ESPN employees don’t have much respect for Clemson following its slim 14-8 win over Georgia Tech last Saturday at Death Valley. Chris Fallica, better known as “The Bear” on ESPN’s College GameDay, made the following comments on Twitter: Who …

These ESPN employees don’t have much respect for Clemson following its slim 14-8 win over Georgia Tech last Saturday at Death Valley.

Chris Fallica, better known as “The Bear” on ESPN’s College GameDay, made the following comments on Twitter:

ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich then responded to Fallica’s tweet, saying she doesn’t even have the Tigers ranked in her top 10 right now:

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Dinich feels Clemson may be in ‘worst shape’ among Power 5 playoff contenders

Following Week 3 of the college football season, ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich gave her College Football Playoff takeaways. In her article (subscription required), Dinich opined that “Clemson might be in the worst shape of any Power 5 …

Following Week 3 of the college football season, ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich gave her College Football Playoff takeaways.

In her article (subscription required), Dinich opined that “Clemson might be in the worst shape of any Power 5 contender.”

“Clemson has to play better, it needs the rest of the ACC to show a pulse, and it better hope another Power 5 contender stumbles along the way,” Dinich wrote.

Dinich believes that Ohio State, despite its loss to Oregon, is in a better spot than the Tigers right now because the Buckeyes will have games against ranked opponents to help make up for the loss, while the same can’t be said for Clemson.

“Clemson has nothing — nada — left on its regular-season schedule that would impress the selection committee, and with Virginia Tech, Miami and Pitt losing on Saturday (to Western Michigan!), the Tigers might not even face a ranked opponent in the ACC title game,” Dinich wrote. “The saving grace was North Carolina’s 45-31 win against Virginia to stay ranked.”

Dinich feels Clemson, even as a one-loss ACC champion, would probably still be on the wrong side of a resume comparison between Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio State and the SEC, as well as lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to Georgia, if it were to boil down to a debate between the ACC champion or a UGA team that loses to Alabama in the SEC championship game.

“With three of the ACC’s four top-25 teams losing on Saturday, Clemson is in a familiar position as the league’s best hope at a top-four finish, but it has to start looking the part,” Dinich wrote.

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ESPN writers agree, Clemson has best entrance in college football

It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football. In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the …

It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football.

In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the “most exciting 25 seconds in college football” before they take on South Carolina State on Sept. 11 at Death Valley.

And this time the moment will be sweeter after a limited number of fans attended games last season due to COVID-19 protocols.

A panel of ESPN writers gave their thoughts on the traditions that make college football different from any other game. One of the topics the writers broke down was the best stadium entrance and the consensus pick did not surprise.

“I’ve been to Clemson only once, but what a game I saw: Clemson vs. Louisville in 2016. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson. The Tigers’ run down the hill was absolutely electric — my second favorite moment next to hugging Ryan McGee in the press box,” Adam Rittenberg said in the discussion. “But it’s hard to top the anticipation of the team taking the buses around the stadium, assembling at Howard’s Rock and then sprinting down the hill. Can’t wait to be back in Death Valley.”

Bill Connelly echoed the same sentiment about the moment when the Tigers run down the hill.

“Clemson is definitely No. 1. The bus ride builds anticipation, and the hill itself adds some lovely ‘Oh man, what if one of them slips and falls?; anxiety, too. It’s perfect,” he said.

Heather Dinich, David Wilson and Andrea Adelson each mentioned the Tigers’ tradition in their answer as well.

While Clemson fans have to wait an extra week to see the Tigers run down the hill, Clemson opens the season against Georgia at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 4 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.

Paul Finebaum: ‘They (Notre Dame) need to join a conference’

Could a true conference affiliation be in the future for the Irish?

The SEC’s “champion” Paul Finebaum has spoken up for Notre Dame. Well, sort of. The ESPN personality joined Mike Greenberg and Heather Dinich to discuss the College Football Playoff proposal to expand the field from it’s current 4 team format to include twelve.

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Finebaum was critical of the Irish “literally stolen championships because they are Notre Dame,” but that wasn’t the point, it was about the potential CFP chaos that could be on the horizon if the proposal is passed.

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As we found out, under the proposed new format, the Irish wouldn’t be able to qualify for a first-round bye due to not being able to be crowned a conference champion. According to Finebaum, this could force Notre Dame to join a conference, like they did this past season.

It’s time Jack Swarbrick and those who run Notre Dame need to get with the program The ‘program’ is that they need to join a conference… I think it’s better for Notre Dame to be in a conference because there are too many obstacles. – Finebaum

If the CFP does actually make the move to 12 teams, it does make for an interesting conversation for the Irish. Is it worth not getting a chance to have a bye? Does having a home game in the first-round and not having to play an extra game outweigh not even qualifying for a top-4 seed?

It’s something to ponder if this does get passed but would it be worth it for the Irish to join a conference? That’s the real question.