OT: Who is Clemson’s Rival?
They’re such a staple in today’s modern college football playoff system. They must have beat multiple top 10 teams on the road to get there, especially 1 top ten team in conference. Michigan at least has 3 rivals and hasn’t made the playoff yet, so Clemson has to have at least 2 rivals right? Bama doesn’t count...what gives?
November 8th, 2019 at 12:48 AM ^
South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Florida State.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:50 AM ^
Juggernauts!!
November 9th, 2019 at 1:06 PM ^
SC beat them 4 or 5 years in a row under Spurrier. He fielded pretty good teams w/ Lattimore, Clowney and Shaw there.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:57 AM ^
You left out Boston College, North Carolina, and Syracuse ?
November 8th, 2019 at 12:56 AM ^
South Carolina is their in-state rival. Dabo was the interim coach in 2008 and got a win over South Carolina. He then lost 5 in a row. So yeah.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:58 AM ^
Are they? Really?
November 8th, 2019 at 1:12 AM ^
Yes, they really are.
As a Michigan fan, I'm not sure I'd be pointing to "lack of sustained recent success" as disqualification for rivalry status.
South Carolina is divided between USC-East and Clemson fans, and they flat-out don't like one another. (with southern hospitality, of course :)
November 8th, 2019 at 1:15 AM ^
If Michigan had Clemson’s schedule they’d be in the CFP every year. If Clemson played ND every year then I’d be ok with an ACC rep in the CFP...sorry not sorry
November 8th, 2019 at 2:25 AM ^
IF, If, if...
Stop whining.
November 8th, 2019 at 6:40 AM ^
Well, unfortunately for us, Clemson does not have Michigan's schedule. So yes, their road is easier. Whoever promised you that life was fair, lied. I'll agree that Clemson has no rival that approaches OSU, ND, or even Mick Dontonio's MSU. But USC (NTUSC) is a rival every bit as much as MSU is a Michigan rival. Having lived in Charleston for ~5 years, I can attest that the state cares, and so do the players.
November 8th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
You honestly believe SC can’t hang with MSU? I think SC would destroy MSU most seasons. It would be one ugly, low scoring game, but MSU wouldn’t move the ball forward.
November 8th, 2019 at 8:02 AM ^
This is true. But would we destroy Ohio State and Alabama when we got there? Dabo's playoff record speaks for itself.
November 8th, 2019 at 1:50 PM ^
Of course Clemson does well in the playoffs. With a schedule of powerhouses like Wofford they are fresh as a daisy by the end of the season when many other teams are nursing injuries.
November 8th, 2019 at 8:43 AM ^
"sorry not sorry"...the estrogen is strong with this one.
November 8th, 2019 at 9:08 AM ^
Oh...you are that guy now
November 8th, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
If recent wins and losses determine the validity of a rival, then by your logic, OSU and UM isn't a rivalry.
South Carolina is their main rivalry. I live in NC, and I can tell you this, Clemson's hatred of SC (and vice versa) is just as legitimate as our hatred of OSU.
November 8th, 2019 at 1:23 AM ^
compliance
November 8th, 2019 at 1:29 AM ^
Great comment!
Although, this raises the "if you haven't been able to beat your rival for a long, long time, are you really still rivals?"
November 8th, 2019 at 2:33 AM ^
South Carolina is their rival
but what does having rivals have to do with making the CFP? One could argue Notre Dame has more rivals than anyone and they've made the CFP so I'm not seeing your point
November 8th, 2019 at 2:42 AM ^
If OSU would just leave the conference, Michigan would probably win the B1G over 50 percent of the time with PSU. But OSU just keeps heading to the playoffs and they get rewarded with huge recruiting classes. They will probably dominate the B1G, at least until the playoffs can be expanded so more school can split up the talent pool and that all the top players don't head for AL, Clemson, LSU, and Georgia.
November 8th, 2019 at 8:32 AM ^
A team that can win an 8-team playoff (Alabama, Clemson, OSU) will still acquire more talent than a team that'll make an 8-team playoff once every four years...
November 8th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
We would have made it twice in the last 4 seasons, 2016 and 2018. And this year if we win out.
November 8th, 2019 at 11:06 AM ^
It's almost better not to make it, than it is to get the MSU treatment.
November 8th, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
I can't imagine us getting shut out, even against Alabama.
November 8th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
Let's see how we do against OSU this year. That defense is nasty.
November 8th, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^
Before Hoke choked against ND we had played 365 games without suffering a shut out.
Not saying we'll win, but we will score.
November 9th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
Do you have a prediction on how many first downs we will get ?
November 8th, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^
2016 yes.
2018 I'm not too sure we actually get in. Especially if 8 team playoff guarantees all 5 conference champs first. Would have been a coin flip between UCF who had won 25 straight games, and Michigan who just got boat raced by another playoff team.
2019 that's a very big "IF", and definitely not a sure thing. OSU only loses to Michigan, and they get in as B1G champs. PSU would be rated higher than Michigan, 1 loss instead of 2, and Head 2 Head win. Minnesota could actually have something to say about that. And do you think the 3rd B1G team really gets in over the 3rd SEC team? Or 2nd Big 12/Pac 12 team?
My larger point was that there is a big difference between going to the playoffs to be cannon fodder, and being one of three teams that have actually won the dang thing...
November 8th, 2019 at 2:49 AM ^
Clemson is in South Carolina.
So is the University of South Carolina.
They have played every year for 110 years and closed out the reg. season against each other for the last 60.
Google.
November 8th, 2019 at 3:44 AM ^
South Carolina, Alabama (why wouldn't they count?). Their in-conference ones are weak though, how soon are they allowed to move to the SEC? I don't want it to happen but seems inevitable.
November 8th, 2019 at 4:43 AM ^
Why the fuck would they move to the SEC?
They are dominating a conference that was always 4th or 5th best in CFB and that isn't changing anytime soon. They are set right where they are. It wouldn't make sense from a SEC standpoint either.
And Alabama isn't a rival just because they've met up in the playoff 4 straight years. Besides those 4 they've played one other time in my lifetime and I'm not young.
November 8th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Not being in the SEC is a point of pride for the academic side of the university. The ACC is a much better academic conference than the SEC - faculty would revolt.
November 8th, 2019 at 4:04 AM ^
South Carolina
November 8th, 2019 at 4:07 AM ^
Clemsoning
November 8th, 2019 at 4:10 AM ^
Rutgers
November 8th, 2019 at 9:04 AM ^
And they still manage to make the CFP!? Earned.
November 8th, 2019 at 4:37 AM ^
The weakness of the ACC is not Clemsons fault. Lots of whining again from this fan base. Clemson would win the Big Ten as well quite easily. How did Ohio State do against them in their last meeting? Better yet, they play in the ACC but how did Alabama do against them in their last meeting? Michigan loses 2-3 games per year period and in their conference.
November 8th, 2019 at 5:05 AM ^
Clemson is cheating and it's not like that is some heavily guarded secret.
If Clemson were in the B1G East and was beating Michigan every year while cheating, Delaney would certainly look the other way and applaud their accomplishments. So in a sense I agree with ya.
November 8th, 2019 at 6:22 AM ^
Prove it? Please include your source! Name the bagmen? Name the organization? Include Michigan’s because they cheat too
November 8th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
What part of the Palmetto state do you abide in? I'm in the Lexington area. Love this area except for the humidity and traffic.
November 8th, 2019 at 5:11 AM ^
I'm old enough to remember when clemsoning was a thing. To anyone that has forgotten, I recommend watching the 2013 game in Death Valley between #5 FSU and #3 Clemson. Think 62-39 was bad? A Brett Venables coached defense was embarrassed by redshirt freshman Jameis Winston. FSU won 52-14. Clemson added a garbage time TD with 13 seconds remaining.
Swinney won 1 ACC Championship in his first 6 seasons (not including interim year in 2008). Clemson's current 5 year dominance is recent and started in 2015. Before Swinney, Clemson was last formidable in the 80s under Danny Ford.
FYI: Swinney also started 0-5 versus Steve Spurrier's South Carolina.
November 8th, 2019 at 6:13 AM ^
I'm old enough to remember when clemsoning was a thing.
Alright, so you’re older than seven.
November 8th, 2019 at 8:05 AM ^
People would give their left nut for Michigan to win a conference championship once every six years. That list doesn’t really make dabo look bad.
November 8th, 2019 at 8:28 AM ^
To be fair, he also made it to the ACC Championship game another time. So he played in his Championship game twice (in the first six seasons) and won it once. I'd "settle" for those kind of results.
November 8th, 2019 at 5:24 AM ^
Their most hated rival has to be Random Drug Tester Guy
November 8th, 2019 at 5:27 AM ^
Syracuse at times.
November 8th, 2019 at 5:27 AM ^
Syracuse at times.
November 8th, 2019 at 7:58 AM ^
Clemson has more wins over OSU than Michigan does, over the last decade, and we play them every year. Bitching about clemson is stupid.
November 8th, 2019 at 8:09 AM ^
You'd think it's be FSU, but it's not. Maybe if FSU gets a good HC they can develop one. That conference just isn't that good so they don't have a good rival.