Less than a week after the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Nyles Pinckney will attend his first Clemson class.

The spring semester begins on Wednesday, Jan. 6. In the meantime, Pinckney is enjoying the run the Tigers are on right now.

“It’s a good feeling, knowing I could be apart of something like that,” he said. “How hard coach and them worked, I know coach (Dabo) Swinney always talks about some day they’re going to get to this point.

“And I feel they’re going to get to that point this season.”

Clemson kicks off against Oklahoma at 4 o’clock on New Year’s Eve.

“I feel that Clemson has a good chance against Oklahoma. We could maybe get that game,” Pinckney said.

At Shrine Bowl practice earlier this month, TheClemsonInsider asked for a playoff prediction from the four-star defensive tackle from Seabrook-Whale Branch.

“I can’t predict. I’ve got to find out. I feel Alabama would be a good…game to prove Clemson’s dominance,” he said.

Pinckney’s more focused on what’s under his control, and that’s what happens when he arrives in less about a week-and-a-half.

“When I get there, I just want to work hard, lift weights and get my classes done, make sure I get on track, so when the fall comes, I’ll be able to compete,” he said.

His goals for 2016 are clear-cut.

“Mostly, just to progress and get better, make a difference on the team,” he said.