Does This Analyst Think Tigers Could Win It All in 2024?
By: Staff Report January 25, 2024

Who has the best chance to make it to Charlotte and play for the ACC title next season?

ACC Network analyst Eddie Royal believes Clemson has the pieces to be one of the teams competing for the conference championship trophy.

But not only does Royal think the Tigers have a shot to win the ACC Championship – he also feels Dabo Swinney’s team could win the national championship in 2024.

Royal is high on Clemson heading into next season, and he explained why during the ACC Huddle: 2024 Football Schedule Release show on ACCN/ESPN2 on Wednesday.

“Look, I like what Clemson’s doing and what they’re building,” said Royal, the former Virginia Tech wide receiver and 2008 second-round NFL draft pick who had a nine-year career with the Broncos, Chargers and Bears.

“They don’t have the portal guys, so it’s not a new transition, they’re trying to learn what the culture is — these guys already know what the culture is. Especially Cade (Klubnik) coming into his own, being comfortable in that offense, the speed on that defense – they’re going to add some pieces, get some guys healthy on that defensive line. I think if they really get this thing rolling, Clemson has a chance to not only win the ACC Championship, but win it all. That’s a big ask, but they have the potential to do it.”

Clemson (9-4, 4-4 ACC) won five straight games to close out the 2023 season and reach at least nine wins for the 13th straight year. Despite missing the ACC Championship Game this past season, the Tigers have won seven conference titles in the last nine years, including the 2016 and 2018 campaigns when they went on to win the national title as well.

The ACC’s new schedule model for the 2024-2030 seasons will continue with no divisions, feature 17 schools with the additions of Cal, SMU, and Stanford, and will increase the number of annual conference matchups from 56 to 68. Based on conference winning percentage, the top two teams will compete in the ACC Football Championship Game on the first Saturday in December at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Clemson will open the 2024 season in the national spotlight when the Tigers face Georgia in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Aflac Kickoff Game on Saturday, Aug. 31.