We saw the Clemson Tigers come back down to Earth a little bit after a disappointing 2021 campaign. Clemson made the College Football Playoff six straight years from 2015 to 2020, and the Tigers played for the national championship four times in that stretch. That put the program on the same level as Alabama, but the Tigers took a big step backwards last year with a 9-3 record in the regular season. Clemson didn’t play for the ACC title for the first time since 2014, and the Tigers had to play in the Cheez-It Bowl. This is a big year for Dabo Swinney and the program as long-time defensive coordinator Brent Venables left to take the Oklahoma job in the offseason, and another down season for the Tigers could really hurt this program’s recruiting and national title aspirations.
Regular Season Wins for the Clemson Tigers
Over 10 -134
Under 10 +114
Clemson has won 10 or more games for each of the last 11 seasons. Dabo Swinney struggled to beat Florida State in the early 2010s when Jimbo Fisher was in Tallahassee, but the Tigers have since ruled the ACC. They are odds-on favorites to win the conference again in 2022 even if they are expected to lose a game or two according to the oddsmakers.
Roster
The big question looming over everything is D.J. Uiagalelei. Although Clemson has a ton of talent, Uiagalelei really struggled under center in 2021. The new starting quarterback was expected to be next in a line of great quarterbacks, but he completed just 55.6% of his passes for 2,246 yards (6.0 YPA) with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Clemson tried other players under center to no avail, so it’s Uiagalelei that will be the signal caller again in 2022. He must show significant improvement if the Tigers are going to make the College Football Playoff, as Clemson didn’t bring in a transfer to compete and Swinney wants to redshirt true freshman Cade Klubnik.
Will Shipley emerged as a solid running back over the second half of the season, and he will split carries with Kobe Pace in the backfield. Both players were underclassmen in 2021, so they should be better with more seasoning. Shipley ran for 739 yards (5.0 YPC) and 11 touchdowns, while Pace ran for 641 yards (6.2 YPC) and six scores.
Leading receiver Justyn Ross is now in the NFL, but the rest of last year’s top targets return for Uiagalelei. Joseph Ngata and Beaux Collins figure to be the top options, yet Brennon Spector could emerge after missing last year.
This offensive line figures to be one of the best units in the nation. Will Putnam is a solid, experienced center, and Jordan McFadden figures to be one of the top left tackles in the country. That will make things easier for Uiagalelei, but he has to be able to make throws downfield.
New defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin has big shoes to fill at Clemson. Brent Venables was the most reliable defensive coordinator in the country, and Goodwin will be asked to make sure the defense doesn’t fall off in his absence. Only six starters return from last year’s defense, but the defensive line figures to be elite.
Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas are one of the best defensive end tandems in the country, and Bryan Bresee has the potential to be a top ten pick if he recovers from the injury that left him on the sidelines for the entirety of the 2021 season. Tyler Davis was a First Team All-ACC selection last year, and he might be the fifth-best player on the defensive line. The back seven could be a problem. Only one starting linebacker and one starting defensive back return for Clemson, and there isn’t a lot of experience at either position group.
Schedule
This is a tricky schedule for Clemson. Although the Tigers open the season with Georgia Tech instead of Georgia in 2022, they have some tough road games. Clemson will have to face Wake Forest, Florida State, and Notre Dame on the road, and the Tigers are likely to drop a game in November. A road trip to Notre Dame precedes home games against Louisville, Miami (FL), and South Carolina to close out the regular season.
Prediction
The Over is the play here as 11 wins is enough to get the win. Clemson has more talent than any other team in the ACC, and the Tigers should be favored in every game. They won nine games in the regular season last year despite a dismal performance from Uiagalelei, and they should win double-digit games with above average play under center.
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