Joel Klatt Says College Football Powerhouse ‘Aren’t What They Were’ In New Era

Following a concerning several-year trend, college football analyst Joel Klatt remarked that Dabo Swinney's program just ain't what it used to be.

Klatt still included the Tigers in his preseason top-25 rankings , but placed them surprisingly low. In his eyes, the ranking perhaps isn't that surprising after how the 2020s have played out so far.

"In the last few years they finished, 14th, 13th and then 20th in the final AP Poll," Klatt pointed out. "So they're trending in the wrong direction. I looked at this schedule and I just thought to myself, I don't like it."

The vibes just aren't good in Death Valley for Klatt and the great success of the late 2010s is further and further in the past, especially in a new era Swinney has hesitated to embrace in some ways.

"I don't like the fact that they haven't brought any transfers in — and I get it," Klatt added. "But it's more than that. It's more about the fact that they aren't what they were four years ago."

Four years ago, January 2020, Clemson squared off against LSU in the national championship game, not long after they'd recently won two themselves. But as of September, that will be five full seasons ago. And in September, Klatt sees opportunity for pitfalls.

"You look at their schedule and there is a real chance, I don't know how likely, but a real chance that this team could be 2-3 in their first five games," said Klatt.

He really doesn't like the slate this group has to deal with.

"They've got Georgia in Atlanta, App State at home, might be the best group of five team in the country," he said. "They've got North Carolina State at home, NC State likely a top-30 team. They've got at Florida State, which is their former quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. They've got road games at Virginia Tech and South Carolina later in the year. Like, it's just a bad schedule for them."

That's why Clemson is sitting outside the playoff contender zone in Joel Klatt's official preseason rankings. You can check those out right here:

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