Where Clemson landed in CBS Sports college football post-spring Top 25
Clemson continues to draw high praise ahead of the 2025 season, landing at No. 4 in CBS Sports' updated post-spring top 25 rankings. The Tigers trail only Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State, while Georgia rounds out the top five.
CBS Sports analyst Brandon Marcello highlighted Clemson's player retention and development as key reasons for optimism. He noted that head coach Dabo Swinney, often scrutinized for avoiding the transfer portal, has instead built success through internal growth — a strategy that helped Clemson return to the College Football Playoff last season for the first time since 2020.
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'Fantastic retention has allowed the program to develop homegrown talent, much like the Tigers did in the heydays of the four-team CFP,' Marcello wrote. 'Clemson enters the season with the nation's most returning production, led by star QB Cade Klubnik.'
Clemson finished 10-4 in 2024, including a 7-1 mark in the ACC and its eighth conference title in 10 years. The Tigers will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 with a marquee home game against LSU, which came in at No. 8 in CBS' rankings.
Other ranked ACC teams include Miami (No. 11), Louisville (No. 23), and SMU (No. 24). Clemson will face both SMU and Louisville this season, while Miami is not on the regular-season schedule.
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Archrival South Carolina also appeared in the top 25 at No. 22. The Tigers and Gamecocks are set to meet in Columbia on Nov. 29.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson ranks high in CBS Sports college football post-spring Top 25
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