In the world of college football, early-season upsets can send shockwaves through the country and cause plenty of overreactions.
Two perennial powerhouse teams, Alabama and Clemson, have both faced unexpected setbacks in the early stages of this season, but according to FOX’s Joel Klatt, the situations are far from similar.
Speaking on his “Joel Klatt Show” podcast, Klatt shared his insights on the contrasting paths of these two football giants.
“Alabama is not going anywhere. Period,” Klatt asserted, addressing those who may doubt the Crimson Tide going forward.
“Those of you who want to bury Alabama, let’s be very honest, if you look at a team like Clemson and the way that they struggled with Duke on the road and what they looked like, and what Alabama looked like against an elite Texas team, then we need to be honest with ourselves to say like those are two different things.”
“These two programs are not on the same trajectory”@JoelKlatt breaks down why Alabama is NOT on the same path as Clemson ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/inySRYmcor
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) September 12, 2023
Klatt’s analysis highlights the significant disparities in the performances of the two teams this season. It’s true a loss to Duke is not nearly the same as a loss to championship contending Texas.
“Those teams five years ago, they were the preeminent programs in the country,” Klatt reminisced. “We were constantly asking ourselves, ‘Are we ever going to have a national championship game that’s not Alabama-Clemson?'”
“[But] these two programs are not on the same trajectory. Clemson’s trajectory is headed down. Period. Alabama may be flat, but they’re not going anywhere.”
Klatt’s assertion of Clemson’s downward trajectory is supported by the Tigers’ less-than-stellar performance in their season opener against Duke. The team’s struggles raised questions about their ability to maintain their previous dominance.
Although they managed to bounce back with a victory against FCS Charleston Southern, lingering issues remain.
What is your take on what Klatt said?
Is Dabo Swinney’s reign at Clemson in trouble?