CLEMSON – It’s hard to think Clemson’s season could’ve started much worse than it did. For a team returning so many key players with aspirations to make it a ‘last ride’ with this core and compete for a national title, those hopes were ripped away almost in an instant with the loss to Duke.

That dream ended with the loss to Florida State, but it’s not indicative of who the 2023 Tigers are. Clemson was sloppy in Wallace Wade Stadium and those issues lingered for a few weeks, but take a deeper look at the Tigers.

Over their last two games, they weathered the storm in Syracuse, a place Clemson is cursed in, before finding a way to win ugly against Wake Forest. Say what you want about expectations, but the Tigers are a real threat to play spoiler in the final stretch of the season.

ESPN’s Heather Dinich answered multiple questions about CFB heading into Week 8, and when asked about who’s the most improved in the country, it was none other than Clemson.

Two-loss Clemson has fallen off the national radar, but the Tigers are quietly making strides and have won back-to-back games against Syracuse and Wake Forest. Since Week 1, Clemson is allowing its opponents 134.6 fewer yards per game and has increased its scoring margin by 12.8 points per game, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information Group. While the Tigers aren’t in the College Football Playoff race, they can still impact it. Clemson hosts Notre Dame on Nov. 4, and Ohio State needs the Irish to keep winning for the Buckeyes’ win in South Bend to continue to boost its résumé. Clemson also hosts undefeated North Carolina on Nov. 18 and could derail any long shot CFP hopes the Tar Heels have. At the very least, if Clemson continues to win, it will help Florida State’s playoff résumé because the Noles’ 31-24 September win in Death Valley will resonate with the selection committee.

As things stand, it’ll take a long shot and a lot of help for the Tigers to get back in the ACC title game, but have chances to completely change the perception of this team.

Matchups with Notre Dame and North Carolina sit very high, and wins in those two would silence any doubters instantaneously. Yes, it’s a two-loss Clemson team and that’s not the standard, but it doesn’t mean the Tigers aren’t becoming scarier every week.

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