What tier is Clemson in the ACC? ESPN’s Greg McElroy breaks down conference

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Not everyone is ready to count Clemson out after last season’s disappointing finish.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy placed the Tigers in the second-highest tier of his ACC rankings on Always College Football, grouping them with SMU and Louisville as teams capable of reaching the College Football Playoff. Miami stood alone in the top tier as the conference’s only true national title contender.

McElroy acknowledged Clemson’s 7-6 record last season was a major setback, but he isn’t buying the idea that Dabo Swinney’s program has fallen for good.

“The team that everybody wants to bury, and I’m not doing it,” McElroy said. “I understand that Clemson went 7-6… So this bounce-back isn’t just about wins, it’s about whether or not Dabo’s blueprint can still hold up in this era… The guy has won a couple of titles. He knows what he’s doing. I’m not going to do it.”

Even with confidence in Swinney, McElroy believes Clemson’s season comes down to one player: quarterback Christopher Vizzina.

“The entire season might hinge on just one question, it’s the quarterback,” McElroy said. “Christopher Vizzina has been sitting here, and he’s been ready… If that guy shows up, this could very easily become a playoff team.”

He also pointed to Chad Morris’ return as offensive coordinator as a reason Clemson’s offense could take a step forward.

On defense, McElroy expects the Tigers to remain one of the ACC’s best, highlighting edge rusher Will Heldt and linebacker Sammy Brown as difference-makers.

“The defense is going to be nasty,” McElroy said after praising Clemson’s front seven.

McElroy also likes how Clemson’s schedule sets up, although he identified road trips to LSU and a home matchup against Miami as the toughest hurdles. Despite those concerns, he believes Clemson still belongs among the ACC’s top teams.

“I have Clemson in Tier 2 because of the talent and the coaching,” McElroy said. “I love their wide receiver room. But the quarterback, that’s the whole ballgame when evaluating what Clemson’s ceiling might be.”

McElroy’s ACC tiers featured Miami alone in Tier 1, Clemson, SMU and Louisville in Tier 2, and Virginia, Virginia Tech, NC State, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Florida State in Tier 3.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: What tier is Clemson in the ACC? ESPN’s Greg McElroy breaks down conference

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