ESPN's College GameDay evaluates whether Clemson's ACC reign is over

Clemson won seven of the last eight ACC titles but some are higher on other schools in 2023. But ESPN’s College GameDay crew wondered if the reign was actually over for the Tigers.

“I think that Clemson is going to have a really good year,” Desmond Howard said Saturday. “They have a lot of talent. I mean, you talk about a high quality team. But so much is riding on the quarterback position. Cade Klubnik, is he gonna be able to rise to the occasion? I think that they’re going to have a fantastic season, but I’m rolling with the Seminoles, man. 

“Jordan Travis. Man, I saw people talking about his practice the other day. (Chris) Fowler was up there and he was like, ‘This guy is another level. He’s accurate. He’s a leader.’ So I’m going with the Seminoles.”

Florida State might have the edge over Clemson according to some based on the returning production. The Seminoles return nearly all of their starters.

“The Seminoles have 17 returning starters,” Pat McAfee said. “This is what Norvell was hoping for whenever he took that job at Florida State because if you think not too long ago, that stadium was actually on fire. You remember their fans were revolting …

“The offense is doing well. The defense coming together. Last year was really a showcase of what they could become. With that being said, seven out of the last ACC titles come from the Clemson Tigers. There’s a reason you’re at the top of the mountain, you don’t just fall there.”

McAfee said Klubnik was shoehorned into the offense last year but 2023 could be very different with a year under his belt.

“I think Cade Klubnik was put in some very terrible situations last year,” McAfee said. “But I think Cade Klubnik with Garrett Riley is going to be a match made in heaven because if you watch the kid play, there’s some flashes of some real greatness. And I think Garrett will be able to do that and the rest of the Clemson team who has five stars everywhere should be able to do that.”

There’s not necessarily dispresect of Clemson going around this season, but Kirk Herbstreit is of the mind the Tigers will feed off any energy that doesn’t peg them as the best in the ACC.

“I think Clemson will feed off of this this energy around you know, like, is it over, is the reign over, is it behind them, is Dabo’s best behind him,” Herbstreit said. “The last two years, is it just the offense? Is it fair to put it on DJ Uiagalelei, the lack of execution? They still have great confidence. They still have great athletes. 

“We’re looking at Cade Klubnik, we’re looking at Garrett Riley, we’re looking okay, this offense is getting back to being dynamic. And you know, there were moments in that bowl game against Tennessee that you saw it, and I think the future of what we’ll see this year, but with a new coordinator, I’m just excited to see. I think they’re gonna play with a chip on their shoulder when they hear the negativity, we’ll just see if they’re gonna be better on offense.”