Where Clemson landed in ESPN's 2025 college football preseason power rankings
ESPN's David Hale pointed to how complete this roster looks compared to recent years. 'Is it a national championship or bust at Clemson this season? That might be a lofty expectation, but the stars have aligned for a team that has all the players in place, from a veteran quarterback (Cade Klubnik) to a trio of elite receivers to a revamped defense led by high-level NFL talent in Peter Woods and T.J. Parker,' Hale said. He also highlighted the addition of defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who is expected to bring back the intensity that once defined Clemson's defense. In Hale's view, this is Swinney's best roster since 2020, and following a surprise playoff berth last season, the bar has been raised even higher.
Clemson trails only Texas and Penn State in ESPN's Top 25, while Georgia and Ohio State sit just behind. The Tigers will open their season on Aug. 30 against LSU in Death Valley, a top-10 clash that will immediately test Swinney's squad. Their regular-season finale against South Carolina also shapes up as one of the year's marquee rivalry games, with both teams ranked in the top 15.
Elsewhere in the ACC, Miami is ranked No. 10, while SMU and Louisville also cracked the Top 25. The league's depth gives Clemson several chances to prove itself as the Tigers aim to return to the College Football Playoff and push for another national championship.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
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