The Clemson Tigers are heading into the 2024 college football season with lofty expectations. After three years of falling short, Dabo Swinney is determined to change that.
With another impressive recruiting class now on board, Clemson possesses the talent necessary to compete at a high level. If they perform up to their capabilities, they could become serious contenders for the College Football Playoff.
Swinney has identified one key area for improvement: the passing game. He emphasized the need for the offense to become more explosive. “Our passing offense must get better this year if we want to improve. We need to be more dynamic and make significant strides.”
The main question mark for the 2024 season is quarterback Cade Klubnik. He has not yet fulfilled the expectations that came with his commitment to Clemson. For the Tigers to be a playoff contender this year, Klubnik will need to have a standout season.
In 2023, Klubnik completed 63.9% of his passes for 2,844 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, and added 182 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Those statistics won’t be enough to propel Clemson into contention. Klubnik must elevate his performance. Despite a stronger passing performance in their bowl game against Kentucky last year, Swinney is optimistic that the positive momentum will carry over into the new season.
“All of that from last year carried into the off-season. While you can’t carry over big plays or touchdowns, the momentum provided a boost as we evaluated ourselves and worked on improvements.”
Clemson will face a significant challenge right out of the gate, with their season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs. If Klubnik can make significant strides and become a formidable force at quarterback, the Tigers could be a major threat. However, if he falls short, another disappointing season might be on the horizon for Clemson.
