4. Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers should have an elite defense, and they were ranked accordingly, earning the nation’s fifth-best defensive rating with a 90 on that side of the ball. That ties them with Oregon, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan on defense. The defense could propel them to an ACC title and a bye in the College Football Playoff. The big surprise was seeing Clemson’s offense rated with an 87 and ranked tenth in the country. That would be a massive jump for the Tigers, a team that finished 52nd in scoring offense a season ago. Clemson does not use the transfer portal, so the jump would need to come from internal development and adding a pair of five-star incoming freshmen at wide receiver. Clemson should improve on offense, but if they leap into the top ten on offense, they will be a legitimate national title contender, which seems quite unlikely.
Clemson 2024 Win Total: 9.5
