Two teams, 5/0, nationally ranked. Clemson #3, NC state # 16. Does the result of the game bode well, as the strength of Clemson, or the weakness of the ACC, as a whole.
Discuss?
I’m a Tiger fan, for disclosure…
Normally it would get pitched as “The ACC is just so terrible”. But with tOSU getting dismantled, LSU looking anemic,and Michigan looking anemic it will get pitched as “Bama and Clemson are just better, deal with it”.
Clemson has yet to play a complete game but the defense has turned up the intensity and proved itself against a passing offense, the last major hurdle for them. The offense appears to be one of if not the most adaptable in the country. We’ve run it down throats and aired it out today. As many Clemson fans have said as Trevor gets more confident Clemson gets better and better and we are on schedule to be very very good by the end of the year.
First, Most, Biggest
Lot of football left.
I agree with 7 on this one, there’s a lot of ball left to play.
Clem is looking great right now, but whether NC State is a top 20 team, not sure about that one.
Objectively, the one and only data point for playing a legitimate team outside the ACC is TAMU, and Clem struggled to beat that #17 team by only 2 points… Clem also struggled against 'Cuse…
The biggest questioned to be answered is whether Trevor Lawrence can handle a defense that gives him a ton of pressure… If he can, they will do great. If not, Clem will still be great, but not NC caliber…
RBF
Nc state looked like South Carolina to me. Not a very good football team. Dropped passes, missed assignments, that type of stuff. I’d say they were over ranked. Clemson is really good and only getting better.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
I don’t think NC State had played a ranked team before this game. They have a very week schedule.
If it was a close game it would help the ACC. But because it wasn’t, it leaves the ACC with only 1 good team. And that means Clemson has beat a bunch of bad teams.
My question is Always this. If ,insert team, Clemson was not preseason ranked would they be ranked where they are?
I don’t think they have played like a top 5 team.
quote:
Originally posted by CaptFritzNc state looked like South Carolina to me. Not a very good football team. Dropped passes, missed assignments, that type of stuff. I’d say they were over ranked. Clemson is really good and only getting better.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
Agreed, but, only in a mediocre conference, at best. SEC powerhouses are falling fast, as well as OSU. NC State at 5/0, and being ranked, was a joke, considering their schedule!
Sadly, I don’t think Clemson is going to get any help from their conference or their conference schedule this year. The “biggest win” for them season was against Texas A&M. I believe Syracuse was their best game but TA&M is their biggest win this season, in my opinion. Granted, NCSU was their highest ranked opponent this season but the consensus has already shown NCSU was probably over-rated as far as their ranking and schedule. Looking at their remaining schedule, the “stiffest competition” (I use that term loosely) Clemson has left is BC and Duke. No offense meant, USC fans but you have bigger in-conference concerns to focus on than your out of conference/intra-state rival whose talent is heads and shoulders better than you. In my opinion, an undefeated Clemson is a lock for the playoff but just to make sure, they need to curb stomp the rest of their schedule and blow them all out.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
bagstick, said about the same as me. I really thought FSU and Miami would be good. NCSTATE is always a toss up, but they were way over rated. Just look at their schedule. it is very week.
I don think they have a single game to worry about. Neither Duke nor BC have a real quality win
A weak ACC at best!
All of this said, all Clemson can do is play their schedule. They can’t control how strong or weak the conference as a whole is. Beat the teams you’re supposed to beat and for show, beat them convincingly.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Bang, I agree it is not their fault. But look at it like this. CU was preseason top 5. UCF was not. they have the longest active winning streak. but they got no love last year. He11 they still have no love. They average 44.5 points per game and giving up and average 18 points per game.
The preseason rankings matter. And it should not. If CU was ranked the same a UCF in preseason, there is no chance they would be number 2 now.
Clemson averages 42 points a game. and gives up 13.5 per game.
quote:
Originally posted by Fishb8Bang, I agree it is not their fault. But look at it like this. CU was preseason top 5. UCF was not. they have the longest active winning streak. but they got no love last year. He11 they still have no love. They average 44.5 points per game and giving up and average 18 points per game.
The preseason rankings matter. And it should not. If CU was ranked the same a UCF in preseason, there is no chance they would be number 2 now.
Yeah, you’re right. They would be #3. Does it really matter?
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
It does matter if you are a UCF fan. I said for a long time the preseason taints CFB.
quote:
Originally posted by Fishb8Bang, I agree it is not their fault. But look at it like this. CU was preseason top 5. UCF was not. they have the longest active winning streak. but they got no love last year. He11 they still have no love. They average 44.5 points per game and giving up and average 18 points per game.
The preseason rankings matter. And it should not. If CU was ranked the same a UCF in preseason, there is no chance they would be number 2 now.
I’m right there with you on pre-season rankings. I think they’re garbage. Some teams benefit from them and others are held back because of them and that’s not how it should work. The results on the field are what the rankings should be based on. I wish the rankings didn’t come out until week 5.
That said, strength of schedule doesn’t support giving any love to CFU. Their strength of schedule ranking is 90 while Clemson’s is 13. As a side note, USC’s is 7. That was CFU’s downfall last year and it will continue to hinder them this year. Do I believe the AAC is that much weaker than the ACC? No, I don’t believe it’s that much weaker this year but as a whole, yes, I believe it to be a much weaker conference and the level of competition isn’t the same.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
It’s pretty simple. You schedule tough match ups for your OOC games until you get the respect and wins, and then you don’t do it anymore. Like Alabama. Saban is not a fan of scheduling tough OOC matchups just like Dabo doesn’t like it now. But when you are trying to get recognized, you have to. The Auburn win was a great event, but they need to start scheduling a home/away with some top tier teams. It will take a few years, but they might get there. They are a great program who has been able to take advantage of crappy FSU, UF, and Miami sanctions in the past few years to get recruits.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I’m curious where you get SOS from. I have seen several just wonder what you are looking at.
I have a hard time believing those. are they calculated preseason, updated weekly? just wan to know how they do it.
Can’t say I know the formula but their updated weekly. Sites like Team Rankings (I believe this is where I got the numbers I posted), the Sagarin ratings, SB Nation and ESPN have no shortage of FPI and SOS rankings and all of them support the fact that CFU isn’t in the discussion. They’re simply not playing the level of competition, week in and week out, to justify a seat at the table.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot