Clemson vs. Louisville is complete. What were the biggest takeaways from this game?
Clemson and Louisville had the marquee matchup of Week 3 in college football. Ranked No. 3 and 14, respectively, these ACC foes looked to put on a show and a game to remember, potentially one to showcase the best players in the country and build a résumé for the College Football Playoff.
That didn’t happen, though, at least for the Cardinals. Clemson destroyed them, 47-21, in a game that saw the lead stretch in the second half.
Despite the lopsided score, plenty can be taken away from this game. Do we know more about Clemson and Louisville? How will this impact the polls?
Will Clemson become the new No. 1 in the polls?
Clemson entered the day as the No. 3 team in the polls. By playing a ranked team, especially as high as Louisville’s No. 14, a win would provide the opportunity to move up. It’s a worthy opponent, one better than Alabama who defeated Colorado State, 41-23.
Regarding Oklahoma, would the polls shape up in a “what have you done for me lately” situation? They beat Ohio State in Week 2 and crushed Tulane in Week 3. Clemson crushed a more viable opponent, Louisville, though. Will that make a difference when the voting is done?
Either way, the Tigers have an opportunity to take the top spot in the polls. It’s early in the season and plenty for them to live up to, but with this convincing win over a team that features one of college football’s best players, it might do them wonders.
Lamar Jackson’s Heisman candidacy takes a hit
Saturday’s game was an opportunity for Lamar Jackson to add an early highlight to his Heisman Trophy resume. Against the No. 3 team at home, he could have staked a claim to be the back-to-back winner and hold this crown for the majority of the season.
However, Jackson did anything but that. He struggled throughout the game, never getting into a rhythm. This included a pick-six that extended Clemson’s lead when Louisville was somewhat still in the game, along with barely having a completion percentage of 50 percent.
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Heisman moments are looked for with any candidate. Jackson had plenty of them in 2016, and while not all came against big-name opponents, he still delivered against most of the noteworthy teams Louisville played. So to have this game, even though it’s early in the season, might hurt him when the final evaluations are done in November and December.
Clemson’s win will do wonders for the College Football Playoff
For the College Football Playoff, when it comes down to deciding one school over another for one of the four prestigious spots, it can come down to the strength of schedule and marquee wins. By defeating No. 14 Louisville, Clemson ticked off both boxes.
It’s a big win for the Tigers, as they face a light schedule for the next month. Teams like Boston College, Wake Forest and Syracuse will face them. While Dabo Swinney’s team will likely be favored and potentially win all three, none would pad the résumé like the win over a ranked team, one that has the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner.
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Clemson will be an interesting team to follow, to see if they can run the table, with a schedule that’s not too difficult. It will depend on the offensive consistency, however, and how Kelly Bryant grows into the starting spot for the next nine-plus games.