Athlon Sports projects Clemson to play in Pop-Tarts Bowl, missing the CFP

It’s been four, going on five years since the Tigers made it to the playoffs, and Athlon Sports believes it will be at least another year before Clemson Football gets a shot, even with the new expansion.

In their 2024 college football bowl projections, Athlon has Clemson playing Oklahoma State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (formerly the Cheez-It Bowl) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

The Tigers have participated in the bowl game four times since its inception. They’re 3-1 all-time, with the one loss coming in Clemson’s first appearance (called the Tangerine Bowl then) to Texas Tech in 2002. They have since beaten Colorado (2005 Champs Sports Bowl), 19-10, Oklahoma (2015 Russel Athletic Bowl), 40-6, and Iowa State (2021 Cheez-It Bowl, 20-13.

If the matchup were to happen, it would be the first meeting between Oklahoma State and Clemson.

Here is the projected college football playoff via Athlon:

First Round

No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 9 Michigan
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Notre Dame
No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Penn State

College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama (Sugar Bowl)
No. 4 Utah vs. No. 5 Oregon (Fiesta Bowl)
No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 6 Texas (Peach Bowl)
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Ole Miss (Rose Bowl)

College Football Playoff Semifinals

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 5 Oregon (Orange Bowl)
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Texas (Cotton Bowl)

National Championship

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 2 Ohio State