Will Clemson get back to the College Football Playoff in the next two seasons?

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy weighed in on that question this week during the network’s College Football Playoff: Top 25 rankings reveal show.

McElroy – who will be the color commentator for ABC’s broadcast of the Clemson-Notre Dame game on Saturday – said he doesn’t see the Tigers returning to the playoff in the next two years or “anytime soon” unless Dabo Swinney begins to embrace the transfer portal.

“Partly because of the program’s culture and identity. They’re not a program that up to this point – Dabo can change drastically, he reserves the right to do that –they have not embraced the transfer portal culture at this point,” McElroy said. “And right now, the freshmen crop that they have, while talented, they’re not on the same level as some of the mature players that Florida State’s bringing in. They’re not on the same level as some of the mature players that even North Carolina’s bringing in, in some cases, and Miami as well, who have embraced the current culture of college football.

“So, I’m looking at his recruiting classes and I don’t see them ranking No. 1. So, unless he decides to start embracing transfer portal and bringing guys in from other places that are juniors and seniors, I don’t see them getting back to the playoff anytime soon.”

This year will mark the third straight season that Clemson (4-4, 2-4 ACC) has missed the playoff following six straight CFP appearances from 2015-20. The Tigers have made six of nine playoffs overall, winning a pair of national titles during the CFP era.

This is the final year of the four-team playoff format. The playoff will expand to 12 teams beginning with the 2024 season.

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