For Clemson’s sake if you saw the score from Saturday night’s 33-21 loss to Louisville, you might actually think the game was somewhat competitive, which might save Clemson a few top 25 votes.
I was there, and it wasn’t competitive. It was as lopsided as a 12-point loss can be. I said this Saturday night and I believe it even more now.
Louisville has so completely outplayed Clemson tonight if they played 10 more times Clemson is losing 9 of them. This has been a total beatdown.
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) November 3, 2024
This wasn’t a fluke. Clemson didn’t have some unfortunate breaks, or a bunch of turnovers from QB Cade Klubnik, or some spectacular game from Louisville QB Tyler Shough. They just got beat badly. It was 26-7 as the 4th quarter started and if Louisville didn’t miss a FG and converted a couple of FGs into TDs, it would have been 40-something to 7 instead.
Clemson entered the game 6-1 getting fat on cupcakes, but they did dominate. Louisville provided the Tigers their first legitimate test since the Georgia game. Like against Georgia Clemson failed this test miserably.
Now the questions will start all over for Dabo Swinney and Clemson. Will Swinney embrace the portal? Does he have the right staff in place? Is Cade Klubnik good enough to lead Clemson? Is there enough depth on the team? Where are the true difference-makers on offense?
These are the same questions that plagued Clemson after the Georgia loss, and in some form have been there since 2020.
It is hard to pinpoint the exact problem, but when I look at the Clemson team it’s clear the offense has made some progress, but it isn’t a finished product. I’m looking squarely at DC Wes Godwin and the defense. What was supposed to be a strength of the team is ranked a pedestrian 51st in the country. Long gone are the Brent Venables days. Godwin is now in his 3rd season at DC, and the defense is in complete decline.
Watch the replays from Louisville, and you’ll see the linebackers misread play after play. You’ll see a defensive line that got manhandled and couldn’t generate any pressure. Look even deeper during the blowouts, and you’ll see 2nd and 3rd stringers that gave up a bunch of points and yards.
Clemson’s playoff hopes are just about dead barring several upsets, wins at Virginia Tech and Pitt, and an ACC Title.
Yes, it doesn’t look likely.
Many thought Clemson might be better since the Georgia loss, Louisville to their credit exposed the truth about the Tigers.
Clemson is decent, not great, not playoff-worthy even in a 12-team field and Dabo Swinny is searching for answers yet again.
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