When Clemson left the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a season-opening 34-3 loss to Georgia on Aug. 31, Dabo Swinney felt better than most wearing the Tiger paw.
Swinney is naturally optimistic -- some would say too much so -- about his team, but his postgame sentiment stemmed in part from seeing an offense that, despite a meager points total, had displayed potential absent for much of the 2023 season. He actually saw progress from the very first play, but Clemson's mistakes ultimately derailed opportunities. Swinney sensed a similar feeling from his players.
"They came away from the game with frustration in themselves but also confident that, you know what? We've got to do the little things right," Swinney recently told ESPN. "They went back to work, they watched it, and they've gotten better and better."
Clemson has averaged 42 points and 509.1 yards since the loss to Georgia, despite a recent slowdown. In a season in which Clemson's defense has dropped off, the Tigers' offense has kept the team in the ACC race.
Other teams like BYU have positioned themselves for postseason glory through significant improvement on defense. Unit improvement is often tied to coordinator changes or new schemes, but sometimes the right mix of players can facilitate big steps.
Here's a closer look at nine units from eight teams that have taken big steps during the 2024 season. Not every unit included is in the top 10 or 20 nationally right now, but all have made significant jumps since the 2023 season.
Clemson offense
2024 national rankings: 14th in scoring, 31st in yards per play, 24th in passing
2023 national rankings: 50th in scoring, 98th in yards per play, 61st in passing