Safeguarding ACC champ Clemson sets CFP objective

• David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterJul 27, 2023, 04:40 PM ET Close ACC reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012.
• Graduate of the University of Delaware.CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Clemson

is the safeguarding ACC champion, but after two straight seasons outside the College Football Playoff, players stated they will not be satisfied with less than a nationwide title in 2023.”We’re not going to look down on an 11-3 ACC championship season,” QB Cade Klubnik stated at Thursday’s ACC Kickoff event.” There’s a lot of teams that want they could have that type of year. But at the end of the day, that’s our objective, is winning a championship game. In 2015 was a great year, but we’ve grown goals. “Clemson went to the College Football Playoff every season from 2015 through 2020, including national titles in 2016 and 2018, but the Tigers have lost 3 games in each of the previous 2 years.Editor’s Picks 1 Related The Tigers remained in position for a playoff berth in 2022, however a late collapse versus South Carolina in the regular-season ending ended their hopes.

“We have actually had 12 truly, really great years in a row, “head coach Dabo Swinney stated.”It’s tough to get to a final 4 when there’s 133 teams

trying to do it. We’ve existed as much as anybody. If not going 8 years in a row implies we stink, well, I think we stink, but possibly we can return there this year and have the ability to state we went seven out of the last 9 years. That would be a pretty cool achievement. “After in 2015’s bowl loss to Tennessee, Swinney fired offending organizer Brandon Streeter– the first shooting on his staff since defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was let

go after the 2011 season– and generated Garrett Riley to call plays.Riley assisted TCU to the championship game last season, and Swinney expects him to trigger a Clemson offense that has sputtered often since Trevor Lawrence departed for the NFL

two years ago. “We’ve got to be much better in our pass offense and our pass defense, and if we keep whatever else the same,”Swinney said.”We were one play away last year, one point from remaining in the playoff.

And if you get in the playoff, anything’s possible. So we’ve simply got to enhance in some areas we weren’t rather as great last year.”Clemson tracks offseason metrics on strength and speed numbers, and Swinney stated this year’s group has the most players running 20 mph considering that they began keeping track of speed in 2014, in addition to

a record number of players hitting personal records in the weight room. Clemson also charts things like”accountability,”and Swinney said this year’s team has actually been amongst his finest at that, too.”This is the most responsible team we have actually had in six or 7 years,”Swinney said.”What does that imply? I do not know, however it’s a great indication of the type of focus you have and the kind of leadership

you have. “For players like defensive deal with Tyler Davis, who lost the 2019 national championship game to LSU as a freshman, those metrics reveal a focus from this year’s group on winning a title that has actually avoided him throughout his career

.”That’s the factor I came back is to win a championship game, “Davis said.”It’s not a [national title or] bust, but my goal is to win a national championship. “Clemson opens the 2023 season

against Duke on Sept. 4.