Clemson failed to make the College Football Playoff in 2021, leading many to wonder if Dabo Swinney’s squad is on the decline.

The Tigers will be among the favorites to win the ACC again in 2022, but getting to the Playoff might be more of a challenge for Clemson.

Is Clemson’s time as a powerhouse over? ESPN’s Chris Low joined “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” on WJOX on Tuesday morning to discuss the Tigers’ dynasty:

“That’s a fair question, because they didn’t make the Playoff last year after 6 straight appearances,” Low said. “I asked Dabo a version of that question and he sort of laughed and scoffed. I’ll ask you a question — when Bama lost in back-to-back years to Ole Miss, what was it, in 2014 and 15, remember the narrative around the country that the dynasty was done, there were cracks in the foundation, they had probably seen the height of their progress? Well, obviously, that looks laughable now.

“Clemson is not playing in the SEC. Their competition just is not what it is in the SEC. That’s not to say the ACC is not going to get better. When you look at last year, what NC State did, what Pitt did, it was a better league. But even then, Clemson was what, a few plays away from being back in the Playoff. They lost in double overtime to NC State. It’s a 3-3 game, as Dabo pointed out, against Georgia to start the season. No, I think they’re going to continue to be a Playoff-caliber team. Will they win a bunch more national championships, a la Nick Saban and Alabama? I don’t know. … I’d be very surprised if we don’t see Clemson back in the next couple of years in the Playoff.”

We’ll find out if Clemson can claw its way back to the top of the ACC this fall.