Herbstreit on Why He Sees Clemson as Dark Horse Playoff Team

Kirk Herbstreit recently joined The Pat McAfee Show , and one of the topics he discussed was College Football Playoff dark horse teams.

Herbstreit, ESPN’s lead college football analyst, was asked to name teams from the power conferences that nobody’s talking about right now, but he thinks could potentially make the 12-team playoff this season.

Herbstreit rattled off a number of teams like, to name some, Penn State, Notre Dame, Missouri, Texas A&M and Brent Venables’ Oklahoma Sooners.

Before finishing his answer, Herbstreit mentioned one other team – Dabo Swinney’s squad.

“I’ll give you one last one – I think Clemson, people are kind of (expletive) all over Dabo, and (saying) ‘he doesn’t do the portal and the game’s passed him by.’ That’s everything he wants. He just sits there and loves that,” Herbstreit said. “So, I think Clemson… again, potential longshot, they could get hot and make a run. Veteran quarterback now in (Cade) Klubnik. So, we’ll see.”

Swinney and the Tigers are hoping to return to the playoff for the first time since 2020 following a run of six consecutive playoff appearances and two national titles from 2015-20.

After concluding the 2023 campaign with five straight wins to finish the season with a 9-4 record (4-4 ACC), Clemson opens the upcoming season with a marquee non-conference matchup against Georgia in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 (12 p.m., ABC).

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!