ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III predicts Clemson will be a serious National Championship contender during this year's college football season.
The Georgia Bulldogs are the two-time defending consensus national champions and finished last season with a 15-0 record, the only major team to finish undefeated. Heading into the 2023 season, they are tipped to complete a three-peat, with 2020 champions Alabama and 2021 runners-up Ohio State also favoured for strong seasons again.
Clemson have not reached the national championship game since losing to Louisiana State University during the 2019 season. The Tigers won two out of four titles between 2015 and 2018, though, and Griffin suggests they are serious contenders again.
When asked to pick a surprise team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient plucked for Clemson. "Dabo Swinney realised that his offense was archaic," Griffin said during a College GameDay broadcast on ESPN.
"Then he went outside of his system and got a young offensive mind in Garrett Riley from TCU (Texas Christian University, last year's runners-up). Now they're going to be able to build a system with the perfect quarterback for that system in Cade Klubnik.
"I've known Cade Klubnik for a very long time; he attended the quarterback academy that I run at Baylor. He just has a thing about him that draws people into him, and he gets the best out of them."
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Griffin stands by the suggestion too. Since airing, he has shared the footage as part of a tweet: "Clemson will be a SERIOUS National Championship Contender this year because Dabo Swinney realized the offense was ARCHAIC and stepped out of his comfort zone to fix it."
The 2023 season will be Swinney's 16th season coaching the Tigers. They come into it as defending ACC champions after claiming their seventh title in eight years, though; their dominance has not translated to the national stage in recent seasons.
Their recruiting class is ranked ninth nationally this season by Rivals.com. It is only a one-place improvement on last term, despite the commitments of defensive tackle Peter Woods and defensive lineman Vic Burley.
As Griffin alludes, they will be led on the field by sophomore quarterback Klubnik, the number three rated player in last year's recruiting class by Rivals.com. After outperforming DJ Uiagalelei in relief, the rookie started the Orange Bowl against Tennessee, a game the Tigers lost 31-14.
Prompted by Klubnik starting in the ACC Championship Game victory, earning MVP honours, over the North Carolina Tar Heels, Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal in December. The junior has since transferred to the Oregon State Beavers, aiming to revive his football career after two seasons of Swinney tutelage.
Now, Klubnik is the undisputed starter. The 19-year-old will hope to live up to Griffin's sky-high expectations and put together a postseason run for the Tigers.
