Unfortunately, being 2-2 is not allowing us to take advantage of it. But clearly, the portal and NIL has spread the talent out. A normal year, there are a couple of beasts out there. Teams we would be very concerned about playing. We have a good team, even a very good team. Even at 2-2 and improving - I don’t see a single team out there that I would fear. Bama? No way. Georgia ? Nope, they struggle against poor teams (but win). Usc? Watched and not impressed. FSU ? We played better and lost in OT. UTAH? - no. Michigan? Not scared of them. Ohio state ? Not much to be concerned about. Penn state, Washington, Notre dame - not scared.
I could also say that while we may beat every one of those teams - we could also lose to every one of those teams. The portal has moved players to teams that even up the odds. Talent moving around from lower and mid level teams to flawed top 20 caliber teams - thus making them competitive. Florida state is an example - people use them as a tool to try and criticize DABO. But they were a mess - they had huge gaps and were not recruiting well - so they went to the portal to fill huge gaps. Teams such as Ohio state, Bama, and Clemson - have brought in almost no transfers over the past few years. Why is that? I am not against transfers. If a transfer wants to come to Clemson and is a good fit and is much better than our talent at the position and they are willing to compete for a spot, then fine. But what great talent that does not have warts (behavior problems, game flaws, etc) is willing to go to a team with solid depth and possibly get buried on the depth chart? So they go to teams that do not recruit well against the big boys. There is also influence for absolute cash from NIL - but that is what it is.
You Dabo complainers - do you think he forgot how to coach? Did Saban forget? Does Harbaugh excite you? 4 years since our last one. LSU - now in the pack. Bama - Saban has forgotten how to coach like Dabo. UGA? Great run,but if you watch this year - flawed. Clemson 2016, 2018 USC - last natty 2004 Michigan - 1997 Norte dame - 1988 Ohio state - 2014 Florida - 2008 Texas 2005 Etc. And the list goes on. Clemson has a very good team. Missing experience at QB and Wide receivers. When Trevor and DW were just starting - the supporting cast of wide outs were stronger. I also would not put Klubnick in their category (yet) - but those are two of the best ever to play - not many are in their category. That said - I would not swap Klubnick with many teams out there. Certainly not ga, Ohio state, Bama, etc.
Be sad we have lost 2 - but look at the bigger picture. There is no big gap between Clemson and the top. Work to do for sure. But ignore the JK and minions and those who think Dabo and coaches are not good, or that the portal is the absolute answer. Jk is butt hurt for basketball coach criticism. The landscape has dramatically changed. There are no longer 3 monster teams like just a few years ago.
Enjoy the games, appreciate what we have, want more - but stop with the super negativity about Coaches and players. JMO anyway. Enjoy your life.