Notre Dame’s Opponents: No. 4 Clemson needs more of everything from QB DJ Uiagalelei, except weight

There may be no problem in college football more a first-world problem than Clemson seeming on the precipice of doom after winning only 10 games in 2021 and adding a five-star quarterback this offseason to back up its current five-star quarterback. Winning 10 games, including its bowl game, should hardly portend disaster, and continuing to recruit with such success forecasts the exact opposite of trouble.

But losing both coordinators to head coaching gigs this winter further complicates the Tigers’ worries. Head coach Dabo Swinney promoted from within in both instances, doubling down on the culture inside the program. That has been met with some skepticism externally, but frankly, if Swinney had sought hires from elsewhere, the external skepticism would have questioned if new fits could mesh with the program’s culture. Either way, new coordinators lead to some wonder until they have proven themselves.

They will have some time to prove themselves, opening this season with a three-game stretch that should assuredly leave Clemson 3-0 rather than facing the eventual national champion in the opener a la Georgia a year ago. (No offense to Georgia Tech.)

Even that loss underscored the luxurious nature of the Tigers’ problems. Georgia pasted every other team it beat. Alabama aside, the Dawgs’ closest victory was a casual 23-point walloping of Michigan in the Playoff semifinal, a score that could have been much worse if Georgia had wanted it to be. Yet Clemson lost to the eventual national champions 10-3, the game’s only touchdown coming via Georgia’s defense.

Clemson’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated.

2021 REVIEWAfter that loss to the Dawgs to open the season, the Tigers’ title hopes remained very much alive. Losing to