Message to Mr. Klatt: Clemson Still Owns the ACC

I get it. Joel Klatt works for FOX Sports.

If he is going to brag about any team, it’s going to be a team from the Big Ten or maybe the Big 12. FOX Sports has large television deals with those two conferences. It’s the same way for almost every ESPN personality when it comes to the SEC.

However, Klatt said something the other day that needs to be addressed.

On a YouTube short for FOX Sports, Klatt asked the question has Clemson been passed in the ACC?

His answer was yes, they have.

He gives credit to Clemson. He called the Tigers’ six-year run from 2015-2020 as one of the greatest six-year runs in the history of college football. He explains that the only reason it is not mentioned with other great runs in college football is because it was happening at the exact same time Alabama had the greatest 12-year run in college football history.

Klatt credits Dabo Swinney for building a consistent program that owned the ACC and went to six straight College Football Playoffs. He gives credit for Clemson winning two national championships and playing for the title four times in five years.

However, he then slammed the Tigers for the last three seasons. He points to Clemson failing to use the transfer portal and claims Swinney has lost his ability to coach because he refuses to use the portal, and his stubbornness will continue to cause the Tigers to slide.

I have question for Mr. Klatt. What does he know about the ACC?

It’s not the conference he covers, and it’s obvious from the garbage that is spewing from his mouth.

Clemson has been passed in the ACC, he says. How is that?

Who passed them?

I ask Klatt this because a program cannot be passed in one year. A team, like last year’s Florida State or Pittsburgh in 2021, can win the ACC, but it does not mean that team passed Clemson.

Does anyone out there really think Pittsburgh passed Clemson in the ACC?

Does anyone believe Florida State has passed Clemson as the top program in the league?

No. They don’t.

Here is why.

Clemson just won the ACC in 2022 and went 9-0 in the conference, while doing it. Yes, Florida State won the league last year and was 9-0 as well. However, FSU knows they should have lost the Clemson game.

The Seminoles knew they got lucky when Kalen DeLoach sacked Cade Klubnik, stripped the ball loose and then had it bounce right into his arms for a 58-yard touchdown return to tie the game.

Before the fumble, the Seminoles were down 24-17 with 49 seconds to play in the third quarter and Clemson on the FSU 29. The Tigers dominated the line of scrimmage the entire afternoon and then a fluke play led to a touchdown and tied the game.

The Tigers, who outplayed the Seminoles and were obviously the better team that afternoon, had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Jonathan Weitz’s chip-shot field goal was wide left on 30-yard attempt.

Still, the Seminoles needed a miracle to end a seven-game losing streak to Clemson. They need to beat Clemson and win a couple more ACC titles before being crowned the new kings of the ACC.

And please do not say Miami.

I think Mario Cristobal has assembled a fine team this season, one I think can contend for an ACC Championship. But the Hurricanes have not passed Clemson as the league’s best program. It’s not even close.

Cristobal has not established himself as a consistent winner, something no Miami head coach has done in almost 20 years.

Yes, Miami finally defeated Clemson last year, but it finished 3-5 in ACC play, one game behind the Tigers in the league standings.

Last year, Florida State built a good team for one year. It appears Miami has a good team this year. But being successful for one season does not make a program.

Swinney started building the Clemson program in 2009. In two years, he had the Tigers winning ACC Championships and playing in meaningful games.

However, the ACC did not truly become Clemson’s until the Tigers consistently won 10 or 11 games and eventually unseated the Seminoles with their dramatic come-from-behind victory in Tallahassee in 2016. That came after winning the league in 2011 and 2015, keep in mind.

Eventually, Clemson will pass the torch to another team in the ACC and will fall back in line with the others. However, this is not that year. And anyone who thinks Clemson’s roster cannot compete against Florida State’s, Miami’s or anyone else for that matter, then they just don’t know what they are talking about.