I’d have to do a few Google searches to see if you’re talking about the 2015-2019 Clemson teams, or early 90’s Nebraska. Stunningly similar results. Whatever happened to that Nebraska program? Surely they are still “blue blood as it gets”, right?
What’s your point? Georgia Tech won a national title in the early 90’s. BYU won one in 1984. Army won 3 in a row from 1944-1946. All those events are ancient history relative to today’s college football.
10 years from now, Clemson is not very likely to have any more national standalone value than Virginia. Thats what leagues and networks are looking at. They are almost as at big of a disadvantage with NIL as many of the SEC have-not programs….which is why Dabo has been de-emphasizing it and bitching about it as much as he has.
Things can change over time. My theory is you have about 25 years to capitalize on your national title ‘reputation’, which is all a blue blood really is. Clemson had lost it, but still had the ‘base’ or potential to build back, though they did it the hard way.
Nebraska and Tennessee are basically where Clemson was in 2006 or so. No longer a true blue blood, but with potential. Michigan, on the other hand, is at the cusp of regaining their status. Washington is in that territory too. Georgia Tech obviously is long gone. Notre Dame not far behind them, but at least they’ve given the playoff a run.
It’s not an exact science, but there’s also no debate with some teams. Right now and for the foreseeable future, Clemson is a national-title capable blue blood program. Guess we can talk again in 2043. But let’s not be idiotic.