Clemson’s late run to reach the playoffs was defined by three words: “Why not us?”
The 2024 Tigers had plenty of roadblocks on their back to the postseason. Georgia crushed an offseason of optimism. Louisville bruised their way into Clemson’s late-season winning streak, and South Carolina wiped away a strong at-large bid.
Even after all of those strikes, Clemson’s optimism was the first to rise.
They believed their time would come and that they wouldn’t waste it if given the opportunity.
That moment came in the least likely way, as Fran Brown and Syracuse upset Miami hours after the loss to the Gamecocks, providing one of the most emotional Saturdays in recent memory for the Tiger fanbase.