Each of these last three years, Clemson has been questioned and doubted for its slow starts or sloppy performances early, and dropped a few spots in the rankings relative to its preseason position; that’s just fine with Dabo Swinney, who craves a chip to place on Clemson’s shoulder and liberally builds depth along the way, often to his statistical detriment. 2016 in particular found all sorts of restless natives and a September drop all the way to 5th before Clemson kicked it in gear on its way to the national title.
This year Clemson had to survive Kellen Mond’s game of his life in College Station with an unclear QB rotation, later chose one QB and lost the other to transfer a month into the season, only for the new starter to get knocked out of the next game a few days later and ride it’s previously 3rd QB to a comeback win over a pesky division foe.