ESPN Analyst: Clemson has no business being in the CFP Top 25

This national analyst questions Clemson's appearance in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season.

ESPN's Greg McElroy gave his reaction to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee's first CFP Top 25 rankings of the 12-team playoff era, announced Tuesday night on ESPN.

Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC) cracked the top 25 and landed at No. 23 in the first CFP rankings.

But McElroy says he doesn't understand why the Tigers are in the top 25 and asks: Who did they beat?

“I'm still trying to figure out why, at this point in time – aside from the knowledge that they've dominated some very bad teams – is Clemson ranked in the top 25 right now?” McElroy said on his Always college football show.

“I'm curious. Honest question, and that doesn't apply to Clemson. I just don't think they've done anything to warrant a top 25 spot. Clemson's best win this year, against a 5-4 NC State team, and I don't think NC State – we've seen NC State have quality competition all year – I don't think NC State has that good a 5- 4 team is. So in my opinion Clemson has no business being in the top 25.”

Clemson finished just ahead of Missouri (No. 24) and Army (No. 25) in the first CFP Top 25 of 2024.

“People who are killing Missouri right now because they’re in the top 25, I understand that,” McElroy said. “Missouri is 6-2. But at least Missouri beat Vandy. Vandy isn't in the top 25, but at least Vandy is good. NC State wasn’t there this year.”

Clemson – after its ACC Championship and playoff hopes suffered a major blow with last Saturday's surprise loss to Louisville – will look to bounce back in Saturday's game against Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia . (3:30 p.m., ESPN).

Louisville (No. 22) is one spot ahead of Clemson in the top CFP rankings, while Miami (No. 4), SMU (No. 13) and Pittsburgh (No. 18) are the other ACC teams ranked appeared.

Tuesday evening marked the first of six weekly CFP Top 25 announcements televised on ESPN before the sixth and final announcement on Selection Day (Sunday, December 8).

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