College football fans indulge in more hypotheticals than physicists. We just closed the door on projections and simulations surrounding the CFP bracket. Now, the discourse has moved on to projections and debates pertaining to the pieces in said bracket. With almost a fortnight still to go before the inaugural 12-team playoffs, there’s still time to reach the juncture where fans and the media dissect how the games will unfold. That phase comes later. For now, let’s begin at, quite literally, ground zero- the venues.

Depending on which team you have a rooting interest in, you have divisive thoughts about the final seedings. A certain faction of teams got the short end of the stick. For instance, the Tennessee Vols will have to travel to freezing, mid-December Columbus weather and hope to bring the heat through their performance. Despite this predicament, CFB analyst Adam Breneman believes Dabo Swinney’s Clemson is standing on the precipice of an even bigger challenge.

During the latest iteration of College Football Power Hour, the three hosts did what CFB aficionados do best- hypothesized! The question at hand was, “Which team has the greatest home-field advantage?”. Adam Breneman thinks it will be Texas, which is not what those of a Clemson persuasion were hoping to hear. “Clemson is going to walk into an absolute buzz saw next Saturday in Austin, Texas,” he said. Breneman presented his reasons for this rather left-field pick.

“This will be [the Longhorns’] first home game in about a month…it’s going to be good weather, mid-60s, in Austin for this game. I checked it out, no rain on the forecast,” he said. Texas played its last home game against Kentucky a full 28 days before the playoff matchup. The fans have been yearning to see their team.

“I think this is also a chance for Texas on a national stage to make a statement. You’re representing the SEC in the first-ever home CFP weekend. They just finished up a multi-million dollar renovation on their stadium. It’s going to be a hostile environment in Austin,” said Breneman.

Naturally as is with most sports conversations, the three parties all had separate ideas. Jason Fitz believed it was the potential White Out at Happy Valley that stood to help tenants at Penn State the most. Caroline Fenton suggested it was the aforementioned Columbus-based Horseshoe for OSU. Regardless, the home field is bound to be a factor for all the teams fortunate to get it. Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers will hope their foray into opposition territory doesn’t become more difficult than it already seems.

Dabo Swinney has more than the atmosphere to worry about

The Clemson Tigers travel to Austin as the biggest underdogs across the field in round 1. Oddsmakers have them at +10.5. Overcoming the Longhorns in their building is a proposition that would cause Tigers’ QB1 Cade Klubnik and Dabo Swinney headaches. Especially for Klubnik, with the secondary that Steve Sarkisian deploys. In spite of Sark’s reputation as an offensive genius, it’s been the defense that has been shouldering the weight. 

Klubnik has some personal stakes attached to the occasion, too.  He’s a thoroughbred Austin native and attended high school in the city as well. In fact, some of his Westlake comrades are part of the Longhorns’ roster. He would largely be the key to the operation if David was to slay Goliath in his own backyard.

Clemson’s traversal to even make it to the playoffs has been a stroke of good fortune by all accounts. The unlikely events on their way here, which culminated in a 56-yard walk-off field goal, typify that notion. Klubnik’s homecoming also feels like an extension of a Clemson-centric storyline brewing. Coach Swinney and the fanbase will hope this run of meshing good performances with a dab of luck continues. As unfathomable as it may seem, Clemson has a legitimate shot at glory in Austin.