When it comes to college athletics, the ACC is one of the most prestigious conferences around. Comprised of 15 college teams from major institutions located in the eastern part of North America, football is one of the sports included in the ACC set-up. Needless to say, many people around the USA follow ACC football – not only to cheer their team on but also to use online sportsbooks, including fanduel PA, to make some money by correctly predicting the outcome of games.
When it comes to ACC football, Clemson is one of the top teams around and has an outstanding record of success throughout its history. Clemson was also one of the founding members of the ACC which tells you a lot about how important they are to this college athletics conference.
Recent years have been especially good for Clemson but their amazing 29 winning streak was rudely interrupted by LSU in the deciding 2019/20 National Championship game in New Orleans. Taking place in January 2020, the game saw Clemson lose 42-25 to LSU to taste defeat.
Can they bounce back from this setback when the new ACC football season begins in September 2020? The sensible answer would be a resounding yes. But what evidence is there to support this view?
History is on their side
We have already noted that Clemson has enjoyed great success over the years in ACC football. Therefore, it seems likely that this latest setback will just be a blip on their record before they add more championships in the future. There is also evidence from recent history of just how they may bounce back next year. In 2017, Clemson lost a playoff game against Alabama, something that shocked many. Rather than leading to a decline, the loss saw them come back stronger the next year to embark on their 29-game winning streak. With that in mind, they may come back better than ever next year.
Star man Trevor Lawrence still there
Trevor Lawrence is undoubtedly the star player for Clemson right now and he is pivotal to them getting back in the groove next year. The good news for Tigers’ fans is that Lawrence is in his final year of studies so will be back to power them along. While this superbly talented QB will no doubt be snapped up by an NFL team after that in the draft, he will be there next season to hopefully clinch a championship win for his side. Lawrence is not used to losing (the recent loss to LSU was his first for Clemson!), and he will be revved up more than ever to perform next year.
Great roster to back Lawrence up
Although QB Lawrence is the magic which makes it all happen, he will also have some great players around him next year to help. The Clemson roster for the 2020/21 season is looking pretty good and it will help them come back fighting. Defensive talent like Justin Foster and Tyler Davis will be instrumental, as well as strong runners like Lyn-J Dixon or Travis Etienne in the offense. It is not just the current players who give Clemson an impressively deep roster to succeed with in 2020/21 though. New freshman recruits like Bryan Breese and Myles Murphy also look likely to make their mark when the season starts again.
Coach Dabio Swinney still calling the shots
While big-name players like Lawrence have taken a lot of credit for Clemson recently, the man in charge has also been key to their success. Dabio Swinney is a highly experienced coach who knows what it takes to win. That is clear from the two National Championships he won with Clemson in 2016 and 2018. Indeed, he only trails Clemson legend Frank Howard in terms of the number of wins gained by a Clemson coach. Swinney has been in charge of the side since 2008, which gives the Tigers a real sense of stability. This will be the key to doing well next year and shaking off this playoff defeat. In addition, the players all respect Swinney and trust in what he asks them to do, something that is important moving ahead.
2020/21 season should see Clemson come back for more
While the recent National Championship loss to LSU was naturally a disappointment, Clemson fans should not worry too much about the future. With the man who has built up the team in recent years still in charge and top players like QB Trevor Lawrence also returning, there is every reason to think that they will come back even more motivated than ever next year.
