Clemson’s Playoff Dream Crushed in Josh Pate’s Blunt Reality Check Answering Dabo Swinney’s Desperate Plea

It ain’t a good day to be a Clemson fan. See, the Tigers had their road into the playoff pretty clear. They had won 9 games with only one blowout loss (to Georgia) and another unfortunate game (to Louisville). Dabo Swinney is going to the playoffs, yay. And then, like some spoiled child ruining your comfortable flight, South Carolina swoops in and gives Clemson their 3rd loss of the season with a very close 14-17 game. Boy, oh boy, did it hurt to watch that happen. Not only did Clemson instantly lose their playoff spot, but now they have to win a game against SMU in the ACC conference championship to even have a chance at getting back in the 12-team bracket.

But, well, Josh Pate ain’t gonna give Dabo the benefit of the doubt this year. “The model has SMU -1. I disagree with the model. SMU is going to win this game, and they are going to cover because they are the better team,” Pate mentioned back on his show. See, the Mustangs are on the 8th spot on the penultimate CFP list, and they will do anything to not lose their spot. Remember one thing: Their only blemish this season was the loss to BYU, which solely happened based on field goals.

These guys won against Louisville. The same team which didn’t allow Clemson to go past the 21-point mark. If all of that wasn’t enough, the Mustangs are one of the best teams in the entire FBS when it comes down to creating pressure on the quarterback.

The defense has only allowed 19 points per game on average, and their offense is a whole other story. Bringing in around 39 points per game and averaging over 400 total yards in almost every single showdown.

But hey, that doesn’t mean Clemson is gonna go right out the window. See, David Pollack pointed out a very important fact; “this is their [Clemson] 10th ACC championship game appearance.” Why important? Because SMU doesn’t even have 10 games of experience in the ACC. Could this factor hold back Rhett Lashlee and Co.? Or does Clemson have to pull some other tricks out of their bag?

A way for Clemson Tigers to get back into the playoff picture

Let’s break down the obvious. Slowing down SMU’s run game. Kevin Jennings has been one of the key players behind the Mustangs’ 11-1 run. While he did throw around 3 interceptions against Duke and almost put the Mustangs in another loss, the dude managed to swing back around in the Pittsburg, BC, UVA, and CAL games with an average of 70% completion and at least 2 passing touchdowns.

But here is the thing: while that 11-1 resume does look impressive, it was built over a schedule that is ranked at 75 when it comes down to the overall toughness. Clemson, on the other hand? They tackled a schedule ranked at 53. Not a big difference, but still a difference.

If the Tigers manage to deal with the QB pressure from the Mustangs’ defensive line, then Clemson Cade Klubnik would prove to be a game-changer for Dabo. This dude is amazing when it comes down to pass plays, and we all know what SMU has struggled with the most this season: pass games. The Mustangs have allowed at least 230 yards on average in every single game in terms of pass plays.

All Dabo and Co. gotta do is shrug off that November laziness and bring back the offensive energy, and well, you have an easy 12th spot on the playoff list.