Here’s a terrifying thought after Clemson’s 47-21 destruction of Louisville on Saturday: It’s possible the Tigers are actually better without the best player in school history.
That’s potential blaspheme, depending on your reverence for Deshaun Watson’s career, and quite possibly an irrational over-reaction to what just happened, but it’s also a real possibility.
Think about it.
Yes, Clemson won the national title last year, and in epic fashion behind an unbelievable performance by Watson, but that was the end result. The path to the title was far from rainbows and unicorns.
The Tigers beat Troy by six at home, they beat Louisville by six at home, they needed overtime — and a fluke missed field goal — to beat N.