Rece Davis predicts Clemson as ACC Champion, No. 3 seed in College Football Playoff

After they missed the final three years of the four-team field, Rece Davis has the Clemson Tigers returning to the College Football Playoff in 2024.

Davis and Pete Thamel made their playoff predictions for this season during the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Wednesday. Davis left his No. 3 seed and the bye that comes with it for the team he thinks wins the ACC Championship which, in his mind, will be Clemson.

“I’m going to say the three seed and ACC Champion? Reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated,” Davis stated. “The rest of y’all are going to come on in on The ROY Bus and watch the Clemson Tigers come back to the playoff as the ACC Champion.”

It’s worth nothing that Thamel instead went with Florida State. Davis had no issue with that selection with him thinking both teams are competitive this fall within the conference before each go on to make it into the playoff.

“Before Florida State gets – like they can get madder. I think Florida State wins the regular season game against Clemson because it’s in Tallahassee. Rematch, two really good teams. Clemson wins the rematch because Clemson will be desperate to get in,” explained Davis. “Florida State will already have a spot sealed up. I think both teams make the playoff.”

Much of Davis’ faith is on improvement for the Tigers on offense. They finished just outside the Top-50 in scoring with so-so production from their passing game and offensive line. They also had a turnover issue with nine interceptions and with 13 loss fumbles out of 22 total.

Being better on that side of the football is the focal point of the case for Clemson by Davis.

“Again, this is a little bit of a gamble too. If they don’t get better quarterback play from Cade Klubnik, if they don’t get better offensive line play than they really have in the last few years? This is going to be another bad pick,” said Davis. “I’m gambling that you’re going to see some improvement in both of those areas in the second year under Garrett Riley. You know, they’ve got a lot of guys coming back on offense. Offensive line – they’ve got four of their starters back. They’ve got a wrecking ball at running back in Phil Mafah. They’ve got some young receivers coming in that they’re really high on.”

“I mean the question is offense,” Davis continued. “The question is quarterback and offensive line. They still need those skill guys. They need those freshmen – those freshman receivers particularly that I mentioned have to be able to make plays down the field.”

On the other side, though, Davis has no concern at all about their defense. He has such faith in their defensive unit that he thinks it can be what gives them a chance to knock off one of the best in the country in their opener from Atlanta.

“Don’t worry about their defense. Their defense is going to be excellent, especially up front,” said Davis. “They’ll give Georgia all it wants. I think Georgia wins the game opening week but they will give Georgia everything they want.”

After being a playoff staple and champion throughout the late 2010s, Clemson has fallen from that over the past three seasons with their being plenty of doubt in them and Dabo Swinney. However, with this team this year, Davis believes the Tigers get back to that level as part of the first expanded field.

“That’s pretty much where I stand on it,” said Davis. “I think they’re loaded, man.”