Wait 'til this year?

Is this the year? Can the Clemson Tigers top the college football mountain for the second time in program history? Is this season National Championship or bust?

It sure feels like that's where they're headed.

After four straight seasons of 10+ wins, Clemson burst into the National Championship picture in 2015 with an undefeated regular season, an ACC championship, and a College Football Playoff berth. The Dabo Swinney-led Tigers defeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl to earn a shot at the ultimate prize.

Deshaun Watson had the best championship game in college football history statistically, but Clemson fell short against Alabama.

That's all led to preseason hype surrounding the Tigers that hasn't been seen in Upstate South Carolina in decades. Many prognosticators have Clemson in the top two of their preseason polls, including the Amway Coaches Poll where the Tigers are No. 2 behind Alabama.

Offensively, Clemson is loaded. Watson is enough of a force to be reckoned with, but he has a plethora of weapons at his disposal.

Defensively, there are question marks. Most are due to a lack of experience, but certainly not a lack of talent. The Tigers have aimed high in recruiting and it's paid off. How that talent translates to the field this fall will be the storyline.

Dexter Lawrence is one of many newcomers who will have to
step up on the defensive side of the ball for Clemson.
(Photo courtesy TigerNet.com)

The schedule isn't difficult, but it won't be a cake-walk either. It has a few tricky spots - namely at Georgia Tech on a Thursday night early in the year (Sept. 22) and at Florida State on Oct. 29. Clemson opens at Auburn, which in normal years would be a true measuring stick, but the SEC Tigers haven't been up to snuff the past couple years. Louisville, Pitt and in-state rival South Carolina all visit Death Valley, where Clemson has won 16 straight home games.

Like a season ago, there will be "if" games, as I like to call them. "If" Clemson wins at Auburn ... "If" the Tigers handle the Yellow Jackets ... "If" they get by Louisville ... it goes on all season.

But the big one is in Tallahassee (of course, "If" Clemson is undefeated at that point). Win against the 'Noles and plans to visit Atlanta in late December (for the Peach Bowl) and Tampa on Jan. 9 (for the CFP National Championship) will begin being made by the Tiger faithful.

One game at a time, my orange-clad friends. Just make sure to BYOG to each one!

-BtW