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Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
No. 4 Clemson brings a wealth of experience, national championship aspirations
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — The Clemson Tigers have a Hall of Fame level coach in Dabo Swinney, a Heisman Trophy hopeful in quarterback Cade Klubnik and one of the most experienced teams in the country. So it's little wonder the fourth-ranked Tigers are overwhelming favorites to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions. At the league media days in Charlotte, 167 of the 183 media members pegged Clemson to win its ninth ACC title in the last 11 years. Of course, the Tigers have their eye on a bigger prize — a third national title in 10 years after losing to Texas in the College Football Playoff last season. 'The guys have put the work in,' Swinney said. 'We've been around a lot of good teams, and this team has the ingredients to be a really good team, but we've got to go do the work. We can't talk about it or predict our way into it.' The Tigers return eight starters on both sides of the ball, including Klubnik, who threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 463 yards and seven scores as a junior. He is 19-9 overall at Clemson's starting quarterback, leading the school to conference titles in 2022 and 2024. High retention rate ESPN puts Clemson's return production rate at 80%, the highest in Division I football. The only starters they lost from last season were running back Phil Mafah, tight end Jake Briningstool and offensive lineman Marcus Tate on offense, and defensive tackle Payton Page, linebacker Barrett Carter and safety R.J. Mickens on defense. Swinney likes to reminds his players that 'experience doesn't come at a discount." In other words, they have to earn it on the field. Receiver room Clemson has produced high-level receivers like DeAndre Hopkins, Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, Sammy Watkins and Hunter Renfrow. After some recent down years at the position, the Tigers look loaded at the position this year. Clemson's top returning target is Antonio Williams, who bounced back from an injury-riddled second season with a career-high 75 receptions for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He also ran and threw for a touchdown. The Tigers return Bryant Welch and T.J. Moore, who became the first freshman duo in a Power Four conference since 2000 to each record at least 650 yards receiving and five TDs. Tyler Brown, the school's leading receiver in 2023 as a freshman, is back too after receiving a medical redshirt. Junior Cole Turner and FCS transfer Tristan Smith are viewed as capable starters by Swinney, too. Klubnik looks for encore season Klubnik decided to return to college for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft, giving the Tigers a smart, reliable signal caller. While some fans wanted to run Klubnik out of town following the 2023 season during which the Tigers had their streak of 10-win seasons snapped at 12, Swinney threw his support behind him. Then came a huge junior season for Klubnik, now considered one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Klubnik said some of his focus this offseason has been spent improving his ability to make plays on the move. '"I was good on the run last year in terms of throwing the football, but just trying to become elite and not scared to make any throw," Klubnik said. 'I want to be more explosive downfield, too." Bringing the heat The Tigers should have one of the nation's best defensive lines, led by T.J. Parker. Parker had 11 sacks and 28 quarterback hurries in 2024, numbers that ranked him among the most disruptive edge defenders in the nation. Peter Woods will move back into his more natural position as a defensive tackle this season. Purdue transfer Will Heldt gives the Tigers another proven pass rusher coming off the edge, and Stephiylan Green and veteran DeMonte Capehart will bolster the run game inside. Playoff ready Playoff experience could pay dividends for the Tigers. Between conference championship games, bowl games and the college football playoff, Clemson has won at least one postseason game in 14 straight seasons, the longest active stretch in the nation. The schedule The Tigers open the season with perhaps their toughest game, hosting No. 9 LSU on Aug. 30. Clemson hosts SMU on Oct. 18 in a rematch of last year's ACC championship game,. On Oct. 4, Swinney faces off against North Carolina's Bill Belichick and North Carolina but the ACC schedule does not include Miami and Florida State is a home game. The Tigers close the season at rival South Carolina on Nov. 29. ___ AP college football: and Sign up for the AP's college football newsletter: Steve Reed, The Associated Press
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Big Ten coach of the year predictions
Penn State head coach James Franklin is entering his 12th season at the helm of the Nittany Lions, and he does so with one of the best overall rosters he has had to work with. That has put Franklin in the spotlight brighter than ever before as he looks to take the next step toward being an elite head coach of an elite college football program. Penn State will start the year with national title-contending expectations after a deep run to the College Football Playoff semifinal, and this is a year where many believe Franklin could be on the verge of silencing critics once and for all. So, how does he look as a Big Ten coach of the year candidate? Pretty good, one would think. Here are our picks for the Big Ten's coach of the year for the 2025 season. Andrew Deal: James Franklin, Penn State James Franklin finally gets over the "big game" hump this year. Based on my other predictions, Franklin has to be the coach of the year. A pretty favorable schedule has Oregon traveling to Happy Valley for the White Out game. However, the Nittany Lions have to travel to Columbus for a battle with the Buckeyes. Penn State returns a ton of impact players from last season, while Ohio State will have to fill holes in some key positions. If Penn State goes 11-1 or 12-0, Franklin will have every right to win the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Sam Woloson: James Franklin, Penn State This is an interesting one, because the Coach of the Year award has recently gone to the best story, not the best coach overall. Curt Cignetti and David Braun led Indiana and Northwestern to surprise seasons in 2024 and 2023, respectively, but neither team nor coach were the best in the conference. If you wanna go off of the best story, I think James Franklin exorcising his big game demons and winning a conference title could fit the bill, especially if he beats Ohio State to do it. Christopher Sheppard: Curt Cignetti, Indiana It will be hard to repeat his stunning success from last year, but Cignetti has a chance yet again to keep the Hoosiers competitive. While he lost two of his best offensive players in Kurtis Rourke and Justice Ellison to the NFL, his recruiting abilities and retention of key players from last year's portal haul make the Hoosiers fun and frisky yet again. Fernando Mendoza brings poise and composure to the QB position, throwing for just over 3,000 yards last year. Elijah Sarratt is perhaps the Big Ten's most underappreciated WR1, and is first among all FBS juniors in receiving touchdowns. And don't forget about Mikail Kamara and D'angelo Ponds defensively, whose decisions to forgo the draft give the Hoosiers two studs in both the D-line and secondary. Look for the man who had people Googling his name to continue to do things no other Indiana head coach has dared to do. I would not be surprised if Indiana is in the CFP yet maybe even have a Big Ten title game appearance to show for it along the way. Kevin McGuire: Matt Rhule, Nebraska I am anticipating big things out of Penn State this season under the leadership of James Franklin, but I also take into account the trend of the Big Ten coach of the year honors going to a coach who doesn't necessarily start with a loaded roster with national title aspirations. So my pick will go to Matt Rhule, who I believe has the ability to take Nebraska to a 10-win season that flirts with being on the College Football Playoff radar. This can easily blow up in my face in the first month of the season, but I think Rhule continues his trend of program improvement with the Cornhuskers and puts together an impressive season in Lincoln. Previously: Our Big Ten defensive MVP predictions Coming up next: Our Big Ten championship predictions This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Will James Franklin be the Big Ten coach of the year?
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
No. 4 Clemson brings a wealth of experience, national championship aspirations
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — The Clemson Tigers have a Hall of Fame level coach in Dabo Swinney, a Heisman Trophy hopeful in quarterback Cade Klubnik and one of the most experienced teams in the country. So it's little wonder the fourth-ranked Tigers are overwhelming favorites to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions. At the league media days in Charlotte, 167 of the 183 media members pegged Clemson to win its ninth ACC title in the last 11 years. Of course, the Tigers have their eye on a bigger prize — a third national title in 10 years after losing to Texas in the College Football Playoff last season. 'The guys have put the work in,' Swinney said. 'We've been around a lot of good teams, and this team has the ingredients to be a really good team, but we've got to go do the work. We can't talk about it or predict our way into it.' The Tigers return eight starters on both sides of the ball, including Klubnik, who threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 463 yards and seven scores as a junior. He is 19-9 overall at Clemson's starting quarterback, leading the school to conference titles in 2022 and 2024. High retention rate ESPN puts Clemson's return production rate at 80%, the highest in Division I football. The only starters they lost from last season were running back Phil Mafah, tight end Jake Briningstool and offensive lineman Marcus Tate on offense, and defensive tackle Payton Page, linebacker Barrett Carter and safety R.J. Mickens on defense. Swinney likes to reminds his players that 'experience doesn't come at a discount.' In other words, they have to earn it on the field. Receiver room Clemson has produced high-level receivers like DeAndre Hopkins, Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, Sammy Watkins and Hunter Renfrow. After some recent down years at the position, the Tigers look loaded at the position this year. Clemson's top returning target is Antonio Williams, who bounced back from an injury-riddled second season with a career-high 75 receptions for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He also ran and threw for a touchdown. The Tigers return Bryant Welch and T.J. Moore, who became the first freshman duo in a Power Four conference since 2000 to each record at least 650 yards receiving and five TDs. Tyler Brown, the school's leading receiver in 2023 as a freshman, is back too after receiving a medical redshirt. Junior Cole Turner and FCS transfer Tristan Smith are viewed as capable starters by Swinney, too. Klubnik looks for encore season Klubnik decided to return to college for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft, giving the Tigers a smart, reliable signal caller. While some fans wanted to run Klubnik out of town following the 2023 season during which the Tigers had their streak of 10-win seasons snapped at 12, Swinney threw his support behind him. Then came a huge junior season for Klubnik, now considered one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Klubnik said some of his focus this offseason has been spent improving his ability to make plays on the move. ''I was good on the run last year in terms of throwing the football, but just trying to become elite and not scared to make any throw,' Klubnik said. 'I want to be more explosive downfield, too.' Bringing the heat The Tigers should have one of the nation's best defensive lines, led by T.J. Parker. Parker had 11 sacks and 28 quarterback hurries in 2024, numbers that ranked him among the most disruptive edge defenders in the nation. Peter Woods will move back into his more natural position as a defensive tackle this season. Purdue transfer Will Heldt gives the Tigers another proven pass rusher coming off the edge, and Stephiylan Green and veteran DeMonte Capehart will bolster the run game inside. Playoff ready Playoff experience could pay dividends for the Tigers. Between conference championship games, bowl games and the college football playoff, Clemson has won at least one postseason game in 14 straight seasons, the longest active stretch in the nation. The schedule The Tigers open the season with perhaps their toughest game, hosting No. 9 LSU on Aug. 30. Clemson hosts SMU on Oct. 18 in a rematch of last year's ACC championship game,. On Oct. 4, Swinney faces off against North Carolina's Bill Belichick and North Carolina but the ACC schedule does not include Miami and Florida State is a home game. The Tigers close the season at rival South Carolina on Nov. 29. ___ AP college football: and Sign up for the AP's college football newsletter:
