The first edition of USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released today, giving us our first look at an official top 25 rankings heading into the 2023 college football season.
With the release of the Coaches Poll, Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt had his preseason top 25 rankings released as well. Like the Coaches Poll, Clemson landed in the top 10, ranking No.9 in the country. Here is what Klatt had to say about the Tigers heading into 2023.
Clemson has a quarterback that I believed in a year ago and probably should have started more games. DJ Uiagalelei was struggling, and it should have been Cade Klubik that came in. I understand he struggled in that bowl game against Tennessee, but let’s be honest, bowl games that aren’t in the CFP … there’s not a lot of credence to me in those bowl games. They are so far removed from what bowl games used to be that it’s hard for me to evaluate what went on in the Orange Bowl. Having said that, you get Klubnik. He’s got his best offensive player in [Will] Shipley back. They should be pretty good on the offensive line. And then the most important piece, and this is the one that I think has flown under the radar – Garrett Riley is their new offensive coordinator. We know what Garrett Riley just did at TCU with Max Duggan, and Kendre Miller, and Quentin Johnson. They are going to be better on offense, and this is what they’ve desperately needed over the course of the last few seasons. So here, Garrett Riley comes in. The next time a Riley-coached offense has a bad year at quarterback, please let me know, because I’ve never seen it. Garrett Riley and Lincoln Riley – they understand how to move the ball down the field. I’m in on Clemson. They should be better on defense, they won the ACC a year ago, they’ve got their best games, or toughest games, at home, a place they rarely ever lose over the last five or six years. I’m in on Clemson.
Klatt being in on Clemson is a great sign, as he has become one of the most respected college football analysts over the past few years. A big difference between Klatt’s rankings and the Coaches Poll is Florida State’s standing.
On the Coaches Poll, Clemson was ranked one spot below the Seminoles. In Klatt’s rankings, the Tigers are one spot ahead of the Seminoles, who sit at No.10.
I understand the hype. They had a six-game win streak to end the season. I like their returning quarterback a lot. They have built over the course of the last three years under Mike Norvell. Last year seemed like a breakthrough. I’m in on Florida State. They are in the top 10. They are No. 10 because they play Clemson at Clemson. They haven’t beat Clemson … it’s been a long time.
While they bring back their QB and while they won six in a row a year ago to finish the year, that win streak was against some terrible teams. When you look at what they did when the season was still in the balance, I do remember a bit of a losing streak in the middle of the year. I remember being incredibly fortunate against LSU in Week 1 in Brian Kelly’s first game at LSU. They don’t get the benefit of that doubt. LSU is gonna beat them. Clemson is gonna beat them. They are gonna be 2-2 to start the year. They may win 10 games. They may go on to have a solid year. I just don’t see them winning the ACC, and I don’t see them beating those two teams.
Bold words from Klatt, Clemson fans should be thrilled with Klatt’s assessment of both programs. The 2023 season could be a massive one for the Tigers if they can put everything together.
Week 4 against FSU may be the most important game of Clemson’s season.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]