College Football Pundit Pegs Clemson as Surprise Team in 2024

A prominent college football pundit recently ranked his 10 surprise teams in 2024.

Longtime college football guru Phil Steele named Clemson among the aforementioned teams – teams that Steele expects to be ranked outside of the AP top 10 in the preseason, but that Steele sees as College Football Playoff candidates and potentially national title contenders in the upcoming season.

Clemson came in at No. 2, behind only Utah, in Steele’s surprise college football teams ranking published in his annual preseason magazine .

As for Steele’s preseason top 40 rankings, he put Clemson at No. 12, and he named two Tigers – linebacker Barrett Carter and offensive tackle Blake Miller – as second- and fourth-team preseason All-Americans.

Here are Steele’s 10 surprise teams for 2024, which includes several other ACC teams:

1. Utah
2. Clemson
3. Florida State
4. Oklahoma State
5. Miami
6. Kansas State
7. Iowa
8. LSU
9. Virginia Tech
10. SMU

Clemson opens the 2024 season against Georgia in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 (12 p.m., ABC).

As we approach the first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff format, the Tigers (9-4, 4-4 ACC in 2023) are hoping to return to the playoff for the first time since 2020 following six straight playoff appearances in the four-team field from 2015-20.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!