Athlon Sports predicts Clemson football to finish 2nd in ACC

The ACC isn’t much of a mystery this season. There are a few legitimate contenders like Clemson , Florida State, Miami, and Louisville, but most are in a race to stay off the bottom.

Athlon Sports tries to project exactly how the ACC will shake out with its 2024 conference predictions. In Steven Lassan’s article, Clemson finishes second in the ACC behind FSU, including a Seminoles over Clemson in the conference title game.

Here’s what Lassan has to say about his prediction of Clemson’s season and his projected order of finish in the ACC:

Coach Dabo Swinney’s lack of activity in the transfer portal garnered most of the offseason attention for Clemson, but this team is still positioned to return to the top of the ACC. Although the Tigers have slipped just a bit in recent years, this program is 30-10 since ’21.

For Swinney’s team to win the conference and return to the CFB Playoff, jumpstarting the offense is the top offseason priority. Under new coordinator Garrett Riley, the Tigers averaged only 23.6 points in ACC contests last year. Another offseason for the personnel to develop under Riley should be a positive, and quarterback Cade Klubnik is poised to take a step forward in his progression. Phil Mafah should be one of the ACC’s top running backs, and the line brings back four starters for ’24. Better play from the receivers is needed for Klubnik to reach his potential – which could come in the form of true freshman Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore.

Although the defense returns only two starters, the concerns about this group are minimal. T.J. Parker and Peter Woods are two rising stars in the trenches, and linebacker Barrett Carter passed on the NFL for one more season at Clemson. Rising star cornerback Avieon Terrell and safety R.J. Mickens lead the way in the secondary.

Athlon Sports projected ACC order of finish

1. Florida State
2. Clemson
3. Miami
4. Louisville
5. NC State
6. Virginia Tech
7. SMU
8. North Carolina
9. Georgia Tech
10. California
11. Syracuse
12. Boston College
13. Pitt
14. Wake Forest
15. Duke
16. Virginia
17. Stanford