The regular season is over and it’s officially time to reflect ahead of bowl season. While we wait for Clemson’s fate, let’s take a look back at the win over South Carolina.

For the Tigers, it meant a lot on the emotional side and getting the victory was paramount regardless of how it was achieved. That said, it still displayed a lot that will play a factor in Clemson’s bowl game and the future of the program.

Clemson’s wide receivers…

Yeah. All that’s left is the bowl game and the Tigers put on arguably their worst performance to date through the air. Let’s put it into perspective, though.

Without Cole Turner, Beaux Collins, Antonio Williams and Adam Randall working through a broken hand? That’s going to cause some struggles, but it could play a big factor wherever Clemson’s headed in a month.

Dabo Swinney has mentioned hopes for Williams’ return. The Tigers will need him in a formidable bowl matchup. It’s still difficult to analyze Garrett Riley and the offense with the injuries all over, but Clemson has plenty of bowl practice to adjust.

Are the Tigers set at QB for the future?

Read the previous point before we jump to any conclusions. It’s no easy task for Cade Klubnik to come in and win eight games this year in his first year as the starter.

He’s been open about how he’ll be inevitably compared to Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson, but that’s not reality. What is true is Klubnik found ways to win at the end of the year.

Numbers aside, Clemson believes in him and the moxie shown in the final month of the year are massive to build on. The Tigers don’t have a quarterback in the 2024 class, so Klubnik’s continued development under Riley is a catalyst for a bowl win and success next year.

Grab your popcorn on defense

This goes without saying, but Clemson’s defensive talent is laughable and it’s young. There was once a time where worries rose about the future of the defense once this core is gone.

Now the core is full of frosh stars and the changing of the guard is starting to happen before the older group even leaves. Wes Goodwin is also fielding the No. 1 total defense in the ACC.

The list of underclassmen making plays for the Tigers would make you scroll for an eternity. Clemson has 2-3 years left out of most of the contributors too, with reinforcements coming in the next class like linebacker Sammy Brown. Enjoy it.

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