The Virginia Cavaliers entered their Week 8 contest with the Clemson Tigers at 4-2 and 2-1 in the conference. Yet, they were barely able to stay on the same field, with Dabo Swinney’s squad roaring out to a 38-10 lead entering the fourth quarter.
With how Clemson has performed since dropping the season opener to Georgia, it’s time to ask: Just how far could the Tigers go this year?
Are the 2024 Clemson Tigers College Football Playoff Contenders?
Swinney, the second-highest-paid head coach in the nation, passed Florida State legend Bobby Bowden for the most wins in the ACC two weeks ago, and he’s already added two more victories to his résumé.
There’s no explaining away the Tigers’ embarrassing 34-3 Week 1 loss to Georgia — a loss that had us questioning Swinney’s reluctance to use the transfer portal. In fact, it looks even worse now, with the Bulldogs barely beating Kentucky before falling to Alabama.
But Swinney and Co. have done their best to put that game out of the national consciousness, rattling off six straight wins by an average margin of 21 points. Clearly, the Tigers have hit a gear they’ve struggled to since reaching the national championship in 2019.
However, the season isn’t over yet, with Louisville, Virginia Tech, No. 20 Pitt, and South Carolina comprising the rest of the schedule — with FCS-level Citadel the penultimate contest.
Entering Week 8, the College Football Network Football Playoff Meter gave the Tigers a 65% win probability or higher in each of those games. And after how they performed against Virginia, the percentage will only rise.
If Clemson knocks off Pitt and Miami handles their business — beginning with today’s bout with Louisville — the two programs will meet in the ACC title game.
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Both squads could likely leave that battle with a loss and still make the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, but it would be more of a conversation for the Tigers, who would have two losses on the year.
Nevertheless, it would be a Game of the Year candidate, with each sideline owning playmaking defenses, dual-threat QBs, and a corps of impactful skill position players. Clemson’s resurgence is clear, but if the Tigers want to cement their place in the College Football Playoff, they’ll need to maintain this dominant form through the rest of the season — and avoid any more slip-ups along the way.
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