In the latest AP poll rankings for week four of the college football season, the Clemson Tigers dropped to No. 9 following their 14-8 win over Georgia Tech.  

The Tigers dropped three spots from their previous ranking of No. 6, making it the lowest they have been ranked since week five of the 2015 season.  

Clemson has struggled on offense this season, which is the primary cause for their fall in the rankings. The defense has played at an elite, championship level, having not allowed a touchdown all season. Yet, the offensive play seems to stand out more to the AP voters in their recent poll.   

The drop puts Clemson in a difficult situation as the season progresses. Their remaining schedule features no ranked opponents, so moving up substantially in the poll will be difficult. However, if Clemson is able to improve its offensive performance and win games in a dominating fashion, they may be able to rise in the rankings. 

Clemson faces a challenging task in regards to pursuing another College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance, but with improved play and a few losses from teams ranked ahead of them, Clemson still has a lot to play for this season. Clemson’s hopes of winning another CFP championship are still a definite possibility.