Clemson’s 17–10 loss to No. 9 LSU didn’t just sting on the scoreboard — it reignited doubts about whether Dabo Swinney’s program can still compete at the sport’s highest level. On3 analyst Josh Pate, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, said the Tigers’ struggles against the SEC are more than coincidence.
“They have a scaling problem,” Pate said flatly. “They can’t scale their competition level.”
Ceiling Problems
Clemson has now lost four straight games against SEC opponents, and Pate believes the preseason buzz overlooked reality.
“Clemson last year, great year.