Embrace the moment, Tiger fans

A season ago, three teams from the SEC resided in the Top 4 of first-ever College Football Playoff Rankings released Oct. 28, 2014. Two of those teams were from the state of Mississippi.

Exactly one of those initial top four made the Playoff in January. That was Florida State. The three SEC schools - Mississippi State (1), Auburn (3) and Ole Miss (4) - finished no higher than No. 7 in the final rankings before bowl season.

We are still one week away from the first rankings of the 2015 season and by all expert guesses, the Clemson Tigers will take up one of the top four spots.

Be afraid, Tiger Nation. But embrace this moment.

Embrace the fact that the folks who follow the sport for a living have their eyes on Clemson every week. They want to believe in this team.

Yet, they have every right not to. That's fine. Dabo Swinney is out to prove everyone wrong, whether he admits it or not.

It's in his blood. It's how he was brought up. He won't tell the outside world that they affect how he is driven each day ... but they do and he is.

The exciting part about all this for Clemson is this wasn't supposed to be the Tigers' year. After losing eight starters from the No. 1 defense and offensive coordinator Chad Morris, Clemson was relegated to rebuilding mode. At the very best, the Tigers were going to try to figure things out this year and be better prepared for national run in 2016. Yours truly even said before the season a 9-3, 10-2 type of year is likely expected. Anything better would be cake.

It may still turn out that way.

Just don't let the over-analyzing fool you. This Clemson team is good. Real good. Deshaun Watson is running the offense as if he were a fifth-year starter. Saturday at NC State will be just his 13th start. That defense that was depleted? That unit is currently No. 4 in the nation in total defense giving up 262.3 yards per game. Last season's No. 1 defense allowed 259.6 yards per game.

I'm not purchasing my tickets to Glendale, Ariz., but I certainly feel like with the parity in college football this year and the way Clemson has played to this point, there is a chance. There is a chance Clemson would wind up somewhere in the Top 4 at season's end and play for a chance at the crystal odd-shaped football trophy.

As a Clemson alum, I will embrace that for now. And hope for the best from here on out.

-BtW