Not only are the Tigers struggling on the offense, Clemson’s defense allowed Troy to amass 383 yards. This game was played in Death Valley on the day of the 50th anniversary of Howard’s Rock. It’s doubtful the Tigers will remain at #2 after the updated rankings have been released. Expect Florida State to win over and take it away, or worst case scenario for Clemson, they could even fall out of the top 5.
However, the rankings are the least of Clemson’s problems at this point. Their schedule this season includes Louisville led by Lamar Jackson. The offensive explosion that we’ve seen from Jackson in two weeks doesn’t bode well for Clemson’s defense that only has two senior starters. After the Cardinals, the Tigers have to go to Tallahassee to face the Seminoles.
The one good thing for the Tigers is that they have three weeks to figure things out before facing the Cardinals, but then again we have seen that they’ve struggled against teams that most would say shouldn’t have been an issue. Can the Tigers hold it together and find the answers for Louisville at the same time?
If these answers don’t come quickly, Clemson will have gone from national champion contenders to not even making the college football playoffs. When it comes to sports, it isn’t what have you done for me but rather what have done for me lately. If there isn’t a change for the Tigers against South Carolina State next weekend, the problems will begin to snowball in the worst way in Death Valley.