ESPN Names Two Clemson Games to Watch, Dabo as Coach to Watch

This past week, ESPN released an extensive preview of the upcoming college football season, looking ahead to the best stories, best games and more.

Two contests on Clemson’s 2024 schedule made ESPN’s 10 games to watch, including the season opener against Georgia in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 (12 p.m., ABC).

The Tigers are looking to earn their first win against Georgia since 2013 in a matchup of regional rivals that have accounted for four of the last eight national championships.

“Want to identify the moment Georgia became the behemoth of college football and Clemson started its slow decline from perennial playoff contender? It might well be the opener in 2021, when the Bulldogs outlasted the Tigers 10-3 thanks to a pick-six of DJ Uiagalelei,” ESPN wrote. “If Clemson wants to reverse those trends, winning the 2024 opener would be an excellent start — not to mention a healthy dose of redemption.”

Clemson vs. Georgia came in at No. 8 among ESPN’s 10 games to watch, while the Tigers’ Oct. 5 showdown at Florida State checked in at No. 5.

Clemson is 7-1 in its last eight meetings with Florida State, including wins in each of the last three games in Tallahassee, though the Tigers suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Seminoles last September.

“The 2023 season proved a return to normalcy in the ACC, with the FSU-Clemson showdown effectively determining who was top dog in the league,” ESPN wrote. “Both teams should be battling for a spot in the ACC championship game again this year, though the winner would probably prefer an exit from the ACC altogether.”

After missing the four-team playoff in each of the last three seasons, Clemson hopes to make the inaugural 12-team playoff this season.

ESPN named Dabo Swinney as the No. 10 coach to watch entering 2024, saying that making it back to the playoff is “essential” for the Tigers’ head man.

“He’s a future Hall of Famer and the first coach to truly challenge Nick Saban’s stranglehold on the sport, winning national titles in 2016 and 2018,” ESPN wrote. “But his hands-off approach toward the transfer portal has raised questions, especially after Clemson dropped four games last season for the first time since 2011. A return to the CFP is essential for Swinney.”

Clemson was also named among 10 playoff bye contenders, with ESPN ranking the Tigers at No. 10.

Under the 12-team playoff format, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and each will receive a first-round bye.

“The Tigers need to make strides on offense after finishing outside the top 50 nationally a year ago in scoring offense, but their defense should keep them in every game,” ESPN wrote. “The game to circle is their trip to Florida State on Oct. 5. The Tigers haven’t been to the playoff since the 2020 season, but they’ve won seven of the past nine ACC titles. So don’t count out Dabo & Co.”

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