No. 12 Notre Dame | No. 14 LSU | Top 25
No. 13: Clemson
Last Season: 10-3 (6-2 ACC)
Tigers on playoff prowl
Forgive Dabo Swinney if he can't stop staring at his quarterback's left knee. Deshaun Watson's ACL, torn in December and surgically repaired over the winter, needs to be sturdy enough not just to carry his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame through opposing defenses. It needs to be strong enough to carry Clemson to its highest preseason expectations since, um ... the Danny Ford era? "It's great to be picked by folks to do well," Swinney said of the Tigers' selection as the ACC title favorites. "But there's a good vibe around Death Valley right now. And a lot of that comes from Deshaun." To be more accurate, his knee. Clemson's defense is good, led by potential all-world defensive end Shaq Lawson. The offense lost genius coordinator Chad Morris to SMU, replaced by two men. But after four straight double-digit win seasons and (finally) a romp of a victory over South Carolina, the weight on the team -- and yes, Watson's knee -- has never been greater. -- Ryan McGee
Clemson is a trendy pick for the ACC title this year-QB Deshaun Watson (14 passing TDs, five rushing TDs in eight games) returns, along with the squad's top four rushers and top three receivers. But it was the nation's top defense that led the Tigers to their fourth straight 10-win season last year, and that group loses six of its eight leading tacklers. In all, Clemson is down 29 lettermen, and its schedule does it no favors: The Tigers face Miami and Georgia Tech out of the Coastal to go along with challenging nonconference games against Notre Dame and South Carolina. A home matchup with Florida State in November might determine the ACC champ.
Clemson's chances to win each game
09.05 vs. Wofford: 99.7%
09.12 vs. Appalachian State: 82.6%
09.17 @ Louisville: 62.8%
10.03 vs. Notre Dame: 54.8%
10.10 vs. Georgia Tech: 63.1%
10.17 vs. Boston College: 88.8%
10.24 @ Miami: 53.1%
10.31 @ N.C. State: 61.5%
11.07 vs. Florida State: 61.0%
11.14 @ Syracuse: 83.6%
11.21 vs. Wake Forest: 93.1%
11.28 @ South Carolina: 60.0%
*BROCK HUARD, ESPN Analyst: Clemson will surely give up more yards and points in 2015, but Watson can take advantage of a Miami defense that lost not just five starters, but its five best starters. Honestly, the Tigers' potent offense should make them heavier favorites.
SHARON KATZ, ESPN Stats & Info: In addition to Miami's home-field advantage (worth 3.07 ppg), FPI expects the Canes to be a top-five offensewith Brad Kaaya (66.5 QBR as a freshman). That will challenge a Clemson D with holes to fill and just three returning starters.
If Deshaun Watson plays the entire season, the Tigers will be in the playoff hunt. That's how dynamic he is. While this won't be the No. 1 defense in America again, the Tigers will remain an elite unit with Shaq Lawson, Mackensie Alexander and Jayron Kearse having breakout seasons. Clemson finishes 11-1 and just misses the playoff. -- Andrea Adelson
Everything hinges on Deshaun Watson's health, and that makes the idea of four new starters across the O-line quite scary for the Tigers. Still, the skill players are phenomenal, the defense should be strong again and Clemson should be in line for a 10-2 season. -- Matt Fortuna
The upside is tremendous here, but depth is a big concern. If Clemson stays healthy -- particularly at quarterback -- the Tigers have playoff potential, and an 11-1 regular season is a realistic expectation. If injuries add up though, the Tigers could finish far worse. -- David Hale
Deshaun Watson is cleared from a torn ACL and practicing, and the ACC's preseason player of the year should lead the Tigers to an ACC championship and could insert them into the December playoff conversation at 10-2. -- Jared Shanker
No. 12 Notre Dame | No. 14 LSU | Top 25
