Clemson and LSU included in ESPN National Contender Article

 Clemson and LSU included in ESPN National Contender Article 

Preseason predictions and even rankings during the early part of the football season are often more entertaining than accurate.  I noticed in an On3 article this morning that Joel Klatt has ranked the top five teams that he is "buying stock" in this season. Klatt, a Fox Sports commentator and analyst, lists Clemson at #1 but LSU is not included at all in the list. Klatt's main points: last year Clemson was able to win the ACC Championship game, make it to the College Playoffs, and Clemson returns most of the team and especially key players. If you have read my July 19th article "Is Clemson really that good? Could LSU be much better?" you know the lingering questions that I have about Clemson. If, like Clemson, you only beat two teams with winning records and those wins are achieved by a combined total of 7points (3pts better than SMU, and 4pts better than a 7-6 Pitt team), then I wonder if you belong in a game with other contenders? Other contenders that Clemson played in 2024, Georgia and Texas, beat Clemson at the beginning and end of the season by a combined 45 points.  Georgia beat Clemson by 31 points in a 2024 opener and Texas beat Clemson by 14 in the last game Clemson played last year.  Clemson did play an outstanding game against Texas despite the two touchdown loss. Who knows, if Clemson were in the SEC or Big 10, they might even be the fourth or fifth best team in either of those leagues. Maybe even third?

What has me really interested today is an article posted on ESPN.com titled “Connelly's college football 'ifs' list: How contenders can come together”  by Bill Connelly.  Connelly makes the observation that "no national title winner over the past 24 seasons has begun the season with title odds longer than +5000. No matter the title format -- a BCS championship, then a four-team College Football Playoff and then, starting in 2024, a 12-team CFP -- the champ has come from a pool of about 14 to 18 favorites." Connelly then lists and discuss that chances of 14 teams that he considers to have a shot at a National Title this year.  Both Clemson and LSU are included in Connelly's list.  LSU faces five teams on the list: Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, and Ole Miss. Clemson, Alabama, and Ole Miss will all be road games for LSU. Clemson faces only one team on Connelly's list: LSU. And that will be in Clemson's home opener.  

I read somewhere that some experts are touting Clemson's nonconference schedule. While Clemson does play strong SEC teams LSU and South Carolina. Composite rankings have LSU as ranked high as 3rd and South Carolina as high as 6th in the SEC. The other two nonconference team Clemson has scheduled are Troy and Furman. 

I do understand that Clemson has a really good chance of obtaining a playoff slot at the ACC champion even if they have 3 regular season losses as they did in 2024. And once you are in the playoffs, you have a chance to be National Champions. Some a betting that Clemson is that good this year.

Connelly believes that Clemson see hope from last season. The hope includes Quarterback Cade Klubnik's four 20-plus yard passes thrown against an outstanding Texas defense in last year's playoff loss coupled with the fact that wide receivers Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr., and T.J. Moore are returning with more experience from last year.  Another hope from last year is the return of T.J. Moore who registered 11 sacks last year coupled with NFL caliber defensive tackle Peter Wood's return and the addition of Purdue transfer Will Heldt to Clemson's d-line. Another hope is that Clemson is able to once again repeat their nationally 3rd best turnover rate. The final hope is that the addition of new Defensive Coordinator, Tom Allen, will remedy last year's run defense that ranked 113th in yards allowed.  LSU is familiar with the need for defensive improvement.

LSU has been working on improving defense for a couple of years. Most will recall that LSU had an unstoppable offense that included Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and was still not a national contender because of defensive needs.  This year LSU is rebuilding in both trenches, offensive and defensive lines, and has brought in help not only on both lines but also in the defensive secondary.  If these new starters and transfers blend in and shore up some of LSU needs, there is hope.  Even more exciting is LSU's built up receiving corps both at Wide Receiver and Tight End.  And finally if Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr. are fully healed, LSU should have a return to a really good defense that was lacking in the last two seasons. This is LSU Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker's second year and while he slightly improved LSU's defense last year, this year LSU's defense may make a real leap ahead. That would give LSU a chance for a win in the season opener and maybe even for another National Championship.  LSU's 2019 team is legendary and I think it is about time for another legendary LSU team.