Josh Pate Ranks Clemson on his List of Top 10 Programs

Clemson made the cut for Josh Pate's Top 10 College Football programs, but are the Tigers ranked too low?

When it comes to how fans or media feel about the current state of a respective program, the Clemson Tigers football team may be in one of the strangest spots possible. With two championships in the not-so-distant past and double-digit wins seemingly every season, this should still feel like the glory days for those who suffered through the more downtrodden years. Yet, the last couple of seasons, despite their relative success, have left a slightly sour taste in the mouths of those who follow the team. So, where does that ultimately leave them in the picture of the national landscape? 247's Josh Pate gave his answer recently on his podcast Late Kick with Josh Pate. 

Pate had the Tigers 5th, right in the middle of the pack of all the national powers, and with only Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, and Georgia ahead of them, it's certainly not an insult. However, due to this program's more recent place at the top of the sport, there are still plenty of Tiger faithful who would wonder why Clemson is that low.

Clemson is one of three programs to have won multiple national championships over the last decade

"You could argue this is low for them," Pate said. "I would entertain that argument. Do you understand what this program has done? Double-digit wins every year since 2011. They've played for four titles in that span, and they've won two of them. They've won the conference in seven of the past eight years. They are so good as a program. They're winning double-digit games, and it's being considered a disappointment. It's because they've elevated their standard there. It's the great consequence of success."

That explanation seems fairly reasonable all things considered. As it stands right now, Michigan and Ohio State have had more recent success in making it to the postseason while Clemson is still ahead of the likes of Notre Dame, Penn State, Utah, USC, and Oklahoma. 

Pate finished his reasoning by stating "I join the chorus that would consider last season a disappointment... but if you wanted to argue with me that they belong even higher than that I think you could make a good argument."