Clemson could start 2016 football season ranked No. 1
It’s not how you start – it’s how you finish, or so the cliché goes.
In 2016, it’s quite possible the Tigers won’t have far to go – if anywhere at all – for a long stay at the top.
Last year, Clemson started No. 12 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY top-25 rankings, and making the run all the way to Glendale, Ariz., finished No. 2 with a 14-1 record.
That’s about the range they’ll start with a loaded offense and talent, yet some inexperience again on defense.
Phil Steele projects Clemson to start No. 2 in the AP rankings come August, which would be the highest preseason rank in school history (previously No. 4 in 1984 and 1988), behind Alabama and ahead of Oklahoma:
“The Tigers also get back Mike Williams, who was their top wide receiver in 2014 but missed last year with injury. Voters love when the skill players are back. Clemson did have five defensive starters leave early for the NFL draft, including shutdown corner Mackensie Alexander and stud defensive end Shaq Lawson, and also graduates leading tackler B.J. Goodson, but did fare well on defense last year with just three returning starters. The 37-17 win over Oklahoma in the CFP semifinals will keep the Tigers ahead of the Sooners in the August top 10, and will draw some votes for No.1.”
Steele has FSU at No. 4.
Campus Insiders’ post-Playoff projection had the Tigers starting No. 1 with Oklahoma next, LSU, Tennessee, Baylor, Ohio State and then Alabama at No. 7 – FSU No. 9.
USA TODAY’s early picks for the Coaches’ Poll has the Tigers No. 1, Crimson Tide No. 2, the Seminoles No. 5 and more ACC reps at No. 21 (Miami) and No. 23 Louisville.
The preseason polls as a Playoff projector have been mixed through two seasons.
Alabama was the lone top-four preseason team to make the Playoff last year, from third overall, while Oklahoma made the biggest charge from No. 19.
In 2014, the No. 1 and 2 in the polls made the first football final-four (Florida State and Alabama) and lost in the semis to Oregon (No. 3 AP/No. 4 Coaches) and eventual-champ Ohio State (No. 5 AP/No. 6 Coaches).
Over the last five seasons, Clemson is ranked eighth in AP top-10 appearances (35), between Baylor (36) and Michigan State (34).
That same five-year total moves up to fifth overall in top-25 appearances (75 out of 82), between LSU (76) and Stanford (71) and tied with Oregon.
The Tigers topped each of the College Football Playoff polls in 2015, which began with six weeks left in the season.
Coach Dabo Swinney was pleased with the chemistry and leadership Clemson has built since last season ended, and he said it sets the team up to have a successful transition during crucial summer workouts.
“We’re certainly not ready to play, but love the progress that we made,” Swinney said. “Mostly, I felt like from Day 1 of our offseason, the chemistry of the team, the leadership of this team, was very different. Sometimes it takes into the summer to really develop, but just right out of the gate these guys have been together and focused and a great sense of urgency.”
Some of that certainly comes from the disappointment of falling 45-40 to Alabama in the 2015 title game, and the Tigers hope to use that to fuel another run. Swinney feels like there’s an edge to gain over opponents with a hardworking summer.
He’s currently going through an evaluation of each of his players to let them know what they need to improve on before the team reconvenes in early August for fall camp.
“Championships are won when the stands are empty,” Swinney said.
The coaches have already begun work on next season’s schedule. Swinney said Wednesday the staff has broken down the 12 opponents for 2016, and now they’re focusing hard on the first four games, including the season opener Sept. 3 at Auburn.
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:28 PM with the headline "Clemson could start 2016 football season ranked No. 1."