When the 2025 school soccer season started, the Clemson Tigers had been anticipated to be a nationwide championship contender. They’d what was regarded as a top-tier quarterback in Cade Klubnik, had been the No. 4-ranked workforce within the nation and a head coach (Dabo Swinney) with a championship resume in a really winnable convention that he has principally dominated.
These nationwide championship desires for 2025 had been shattered simply a few weeks into the season. Now, after Saturday’s 35-24 loss to SMU, merely attending to a bowl recreation could also be an issue for the Tigers as they proceed on what has been a very misplaced season.
Can Clemson even get to a bowl recreation?
It looks like an insane query to ask given Clemson’s current program historical past, in addition to its preseason rating, however it’s going to be considerably more durable than anyone would have anticipated earlier than the season for this workforce to even get to bowl eligibility.
After Saturday’s loss, Clemson is 3-4, with its solely wins coming over Troy, North Carolina and Boston College, with the latter two being the one power-four convention wins on the schedule. Each groups are among the many worst Energy 4 groups within the nation.
For Clemson to get bowl eligible, it’s going to have to win no less than three of its remaining 5 video games.
The remaining groups on the schedule are Duke, Florida State,
Louisville, Furman and South Carolina.
Whereas none of these groups are at the moment ranked (that can in all probability change on Sunday), it is nonetheless not a simple schedule. Particularly for a workforce that has not proven it may beat even above-average competitors this season.
Duke and Florida State are no less than formidable opponents, whereas Louisville has emerged as a critical ACC contender, particularly after its Friday evening win over No. 2 Miami.
Furman ought to be a win, however then South Carolina is a season-ending rivalry recreation the place something can occur.
If Clemson drops one among these subsequent two video games to the Blue Devils or Seminoles, it’s going to put quite a lot of strain on these remaining video games.
It’s an unimaginable fall for a workforce that hoped to win a Nationwide Championship this season to only be hoping for a visit to the Dangerous Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl or the Gasparilla Bowl. If they’re fortunate.
