Can the Clemson Tigers Run the Table Down the Stretch?

The Clemson Tigers have gotten their two toughest games out of the way: LSU and Miami. They lost both in blowout fashion and won their other three matchups, so they sit at 3-2 after their bye week.

Clemson will return to the field to face Charleston Southern next Saturday in what should be an easy win for the Tigers, who do not have a single ranked opponent on their schedule the rest of the season.

It begs the question: can Clemson run the table?

It sounds unheard of considering just how bad the Tigers looked in their season opener against LSU and how badly they were smacked by Miami in Week 5, but it might actually be a possibility.

Now, do I personally believe Clemson will win out? No. I don't think this Clemson team is good enough to do that. This isn't 2018.

But I absolutely do not think nine wins is out of the realm of possibility, and I suppose that if everything breaks their way, the Tigers could win every game and finish 10-2.

There are three matchups I'm looking at that seem to be the most challenging: Virginia Tech (Oct. 24), at Duke (Dec. 20) and South Carolina (Nov. 28).

Virginia Tech just lost to California, whom Clemson defeated back in Week 4, but the Hokies aren't a bad football team, boasting an explosive offense.

Duke suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, falling to Georgia Tech, but Clemson will be on the road for that game. The Blue Devils aren't pushovers.

Then, there is South Carolina, Clemson's in-state rival which has LaNorris Sellers under center, Nyck Harbor at wide receiver and a tough, bruising rushing attack. The Gamecocks also just destroyed Florida in Gainesville.

Are any of those games terrifying for the Tigers? No. But I could absolutely see Clemson losing two — or maybe even three — of those matcuhps.

Much of this depends on the progression of Tait Reynolds, who certainly showed promise against Miami, but is still very raw. He has been fairly mistake-prone thus far, and I could see Reynolds costing the Tigers one of those games.

But the rest of Clemson's matchups? Charleston Southern? Florida State? Syracuse? Georgia Tech? The Tigers should win all of those contests.

If Clemson is able to somehow win out, it wouldn't get them into the CFP conversation. It simply wouldn't have a strong enough resume. But it would definitely stave off the "fire Swinney" talk and could help put the Tigers back on the map moving forward.