The preseason AP Top 25 Poll was released on Monday, and like it does each year, it has once again generated plenty of reaction and buzz ahead of the upcoming college football season.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Get Up show featured a segment with Paul Finebaum and Heather Dinich giving their opinions and commentary on the preseason AP Poll.
Dinich, ESPN’s lead College Football Playoff insider, was asked by Get Up host Mike Greenberg who the most overrated team in the poll is, in her opinion.
Dinich stated that Clemson is the most overrated team at No. 14 in the poll, and she didn’t hold back on the Tigers during her answer.
“Clemson,” Dinich said in response to Greenberg’s question. “Why so much love for the Clemson Tigers? They had four conference losses last year, which is as many as they’ve had combined in the past six seasons.”
Clemson went 9-4 (4-4 ACC) in 2023, ending the program’s streak of 12 consecutive double-digit win seasons. However, the Tigers enter 2024 with late-season momentum from 2023, when they finished the season on a five-game winning streak following a 4-4 start.
After a record six straight College Football Playoff appearances from 2015-20, and two national titles in that span, Clemson has missed the playoff three years in a row and hopes to return to the playoff this season in the first year of the 12-team format.
Dinich explained why she believes Clemson is the most overrated team in the preseason AP Poll, pointing to the offensive side of the ball and rising junior quarterback Cade Klubnik, who passed for 2,844 yards and 19 touchdowns with nine interceptions in his first full season as the Tigers’ starting signal-caller in 2023.
“People keep telling me their defense is going to be great – their defense is always pretty good. But they’ve got to get a quarterback,” Dinich said. “Cade Klubnik is back. Until we see offensive improvement, I don’t see why there should be so much love for the Clemson Tigers.”
The Tigers open the 2024 season against Georgia – the No. 1 team in both the preseason AP Top 25 and preseason Coaches Poll – on Saturday, Aug. 31 in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (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!
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