CLEMSON — Following last year’s debacle and considering nine Clemson players were selected in the top five rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, I cannot get a feel on the 2026 Tigers.

I do not think any of you can either.

I was on a St. Augustine radio show on Monday and was I asked what the fanbase in Clemson and all around the state of South Carolina was feeling about the Tigers this year. My answer was a simple one. “I don’t know,” I said.

He then followed, “Can Clemson be better than last year?”

I paused before saying, “Maybe.” And then I explained.

It would not surprise me if Clemson had a better team than last year. I think Chad Morris does bring a different element to the offense, and I think his style and tempo will make the Tigers better.

Tom Allen said “bye” to one of his defensive coaches, demoted another and told his players this is how they were going to do things this year and if they don’t like it, “there is the door.” I am not sure if that is what he said, exactly, but I am sure it was something like that because a few of the players hit the transfer portal at the end of the year.

That was okay, though. Allen went out and got his guys and brought them in. He brought in 10 to be exact, so the defense, like the offense, could be better. I guess we will see.

Again, there are too many question marks to give a definitive answer.

I was then asked, “What is the expectation of the fanbase?”

“College Football Playoff or bust,” I said.

They were a little surprised by that answer. I explained to them, at Clemson, the expectations are always high because the fans got used to a certain amount of success and once you experience the kind of success the Tigers had from 2011-2024, it is hard to go back.

Going to a Pinstripe Bowl or whatever bowl game does nothing for the Clemson fanbase. They feel winning an ACC Championship is their birthright. Going to the CFP is just expected, as a result.

You can’t blame them. Clemson won nine ACC Championships during that 14-year span.

People might say Clemson should not expect that kind of success because it is reserved for the Blue Bloods like Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas and Southern Cal. However, outside of Alabama and Ohio State, none of those teams have had the kind of run Clemson did.

Actually, only one can. Alabama’s run under former head coach Nick Saban, can top what Clemson did in the previous 15 seasons. It was truly one of the more historic runs in College Football History.

So, it is playoff or bust for the Clemson Tigers in 2026. If that does not happen, what does that mean for the program going forward and head coach Dabo Swinney?

Again, I do not know.