CLEMSON – Let’s be honest, not many people are giving Clemson much of a chance to beat Texas in the opening game of the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers will head into Austin as double-digit underdogs, but ESPN gives Dabo Swinney’s team a mere 15.5% chance of winning.
Don’t get me wrong, there is good reason to believe Clemson will have little to no shooting. The Longhorns rank third in the nation in total defense, allowing just 249.5 yards per game. Texas ranks second in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score just 12.5 points per game. Pass defense (143.1 YPG) ranks first in the nation, rush defense (106.4 YPG) ranks 15th.
For comparison, Clemson ranks 16th in scoring offense (35.5 PPG), 15th in total offense (454.9 YPG) and 17th in passing offense (274.1 YPG).
While Texas doesn’t play some of the best offenses in the country and put up spectacular numbers week in and week out, it’s still impressive and can’t be ignored.
Add in the fact that Clemson has struggled against historically good defenses, and it’s no wonder people are picking Texas.
That said, it would be foolish to write off Swinney entirely here. This is the seventh time he has led the Tigers to the playoffs. Swinney has been there, done it, and knows what it takes.
The longtime head coach also seems to be at his best when his back appears to be against the wall. Swinney has played the underdog role well in the past. He knows exactly which buttons to press. In the past, his Clemson teams have thrived in this type of underdog role that offers few opportunities.
And in this case, it goes much deeper than this playoff game in Texas. Much of the national media declared Swinney’s day in the sun over. That his plans are on the decline and are rapidly declining.
It would be foolish to suggest that the Tigers haven’t taken a step back in recent years, but you could also make the argument that it’s just as foolish to suggest that Swinney is finished when it comes to winning at the highest level.
This Clemson team has an opportunity to rewrite its narrative. A win against the Longhorns would prove that no matter what adversity they faced during the regular season, the Tigers are now on the upswing and are, in fact, not on the decline.
A limited number of replica road signs signed by Cade Klubnik are available. Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online.
