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USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson is one of the biggest college football hype trains rolling into 2025, expert says
Clemson is one of the biggest college football hype trains rolling into 2025, expert says The Clemson Tigers understandably have a lot of hype heading into the 2025 college football season. After the year quarterback Cade Klubnik had in 2024 (3,639 passing yards, 36 TDs), and a host of other talent returning on both sides of the ball in defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods and receivers Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore, Clemson is as high as No. 2 in various post-spring top 25 rankings (USA TODAY Sports, ESPN). With 83 days remaining until the Tigers open the season against LSU at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30, CBS Sports has Clemson on its list of the 12 biggest "hype trains" with the most offseason buzz rolling into 2025. Analyst Carter Bahns said of the Tigers: "Dabo Swinney is nearly seven years removed from his second national championship, but after a long stretch that saw his Clemson program slip from its pedestal, he has a behemoth of a 2025 roster that could get back to the mountaintop. Cade Klubnik might be college football's top quarterback after he improved throughout last season, and his stacked receiving corps will only help him reach the next level as a Heisman contender. Expected improvements on defense with Tom Allen taking over the unit will make the Tigers as well-rounded as anyone." Swinney brought in Allen to run the defense after heading up a Penn State unit that went 11-1 in the regular season and reached the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff in 2024. Allen will be tasked to improve a Clemson defense that, under Wes Goodwin, gave up an average of 374 yards per game (69th nationally). The Tigers went 10-4 last year and defeated SMU, 34-31, in a thrilling ACC Championship Game on a walk-off 56-yard Nolan Hauser field goal as time expired. They made the College Football Playoff for the first time in four years and were ranked No. 11 in the final US LBM Coaches Poll. Clemson's season opener against LSU will be in prime time at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC. Clemson football schedule 2025 Aug. 30: vs. LSU Sept. 6: vs. Troy Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse Oct. 4: at North Carolina Oct. 11: at Boston College Oct. 18: vs. SMU Nov. 1: vs. Duke Nov. 8: vs. Florida State Nov. 14: at Louisville Nov. 22: vs. Furman Nov. 29: at South Carolina Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dabo Swinney Flaunts Clemson Achievements Amid Changing College Football Landscape
Dabo Swinney Flaunts Clemson Achievements Amid Changing College Football Landscape originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The college football landscape in 2025 is vastly different than the one Dabo Swinney saw when he was named Clemson's 27th head football coach in 2008. Advertisement In 2018, months before Swinney led Clemson to its third national title in program history, the NCAA introduced the transfer portal, launching a new era in player movement from one program to another. This change in player mobility was followed by the start of the "NIL era." Beginning July 1, 2021, players could profit from their name, image and likeness like never before. This changed the function of many college football "blue bloods" and attracted top talent from around the country. But not Clemson. Entering his 17th season as the Tigers' coach, Swinney continues to position himself as an NIL skeptic who is leaning into his reputation as an elite recruiter. Swinney became more entrenched in his stance after he guided Clemson to a surprise ACC Championship Game win and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. Advertisement "We're top in the country in retention, and we also have the highest graduation rate," Swinney said on ESPN's "College Gameday Podcast." "We've been in the Playoff seven times in 10 years, and we've won the league eight out of 10 years. It's all been driven by a purpose, and that's what we stay committed to. That's our north star." Swinney and Clemson did bend their "rules" a bit to secure Cade Klubnik on a $3.3 million NIL contract. But Klubnik's growth in 2024 helped the Tigers return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. It may prove to be the best $3 million spent in school history if Klubnik can deliver a national title in 2025. Related: Cade Klubnik's Emotional Reaction To EA Sports College Football 26 News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson is only focused on USC-Upstate as they prepare for the Clemson Regional
Clemson is only focused on USC-Upstate as they prepare for the Clemson Regional Clemson's lopsided 14-4 loss to North Carolina in Sunday's ACC Championship Game isn't lingering in the minds of the Tigers — not with the NCAA Tournament just days away. 'Disappointing as (Sunday) was, you just got to flush that and move on,' head coach Erik Bakich said. 'By the time we got on the bus leaving Durham, we had already turned the page.' Despite falling short of a second ACC title in three years, Clemson (41-14) has secured the No. 11 national seed and top billing in the Clemson regional. The Tigers will host No. 2 seed West Virginia, No. 3 seed Kentucky, and No. 4 seed USC-Upstate at Doug Kingsmore Stadium starting Friday. Clemson opens regional play at 6 p.m. against USC-Upstate, a team Bakich is plenty familiar with. The Tigers have beaten the Spartans twice this season — 12-6 in February and 11-1 in April — and Bakich is 4-1 against Upstate since arriving at Clemson. 'Our focus is not going any further than Friday and USC-Upstate,' Bakich said. 'They have a great club. First-year coach, back in the tournament, coming off the dog pile. They can really hit. Dangerous lineup.' USC-Upstate enters on a six-game win streak after capturing the Big South Tournament in Kane Sweeney's debut season. Meanwhile, West Virginia and Kentucky will face off in Friday's noon game, with the winners set to meet Saturday. While Bakich acknowledged Kentucky's aggressive style and West Virginia's consistency, he emphasized that scouting reports would wait. 'We haven't really looked at anything in-depth or in detail,' he said. 'We will.' For now, the Tigers are focused squarely on Friday night. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media reacts to Clemson taking down Georgia Tech to advance to the ACC Championship
Social media reacts to Clemson taking down Georgia Tech to advance to the ACC Championship The Tigers are headed back to the ACC Championship Game for the second time in three years after knocking off No. 1 seed Georgia Tech, 9–4, on Saturday in Durham. Jacob Jarrell launched a third-inning grand slam over the Blue Monster to flip an early 3–0 deficit, and Clemson never trailed again. That blast was Jarrell's 15th homer of the season — and it blew the game wide open. Collin Priest added a solo shot in the 9th for good measure, while Andrew Ciufo doubled twice and scored twice to keep Clemson rolling. Cam Cannarella and TP Wentworth also drove in runs in a well-rounded offensive effort. Talan Bell got the start on the mound, but it was Jacob McGovern who slammed the door, tossing four scoreless innings and retiring All-ACC slugger Drew Burress to end it. Clemson (44–15) has now won six straight and will play for its 12th ACC Tournament title Sunday at noon on ESPN2. The Tigers await the winner of Florida State vs. North Carolina. With the huge win came some big reactions. Here is how social media reacted to Clemson advancing to the ACC Championship. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mack Brown reveals improvements UNC made for Bill Belichick
Mack Brown reveals improvements UNC made for Bill Belichick Mack Brown had interesting comments on improvements with UNC for Bill Belichick. The second stint for Mack Brown didn't end how many had hoped it would at North Carolina as the two sides parted ways after the 2024 season. Under Brown, UNC reached the ACC Championship Game once as they lost to Clemson a few years back. They also had an Orange Bowl appearance. But with Sam Howell and Drake Maye at quarterback, many expected more success. And now, Brown is pointing to UNC investing more into the program now that he's gone. In a recent interview with Dusty Dvoracek and Danny Kanell on Sirius XM, Brown discussed UNC's hiring of Bill Belichick and had some interesting things to say. 'As far as North Carolina and Bill Belichick now, he's arguably the best coach ever,' Brown said via On3. 'They've committed money to it, they've helped him with academics. They've lowered those standards some. So there's absolutely no reason they shouldn't be successful. 'And anymore, they've changed the roster. … So you've got a chance to succeed at the highest level, and I expect him to do that and I'm proud for him.' That's an interesting quote. Brown does say he hopes that the program succeeds under Belichick, but the comments do give off a bad vibe in a way. It's hard not to blame Brown for feeling slighted and for how things ended in his second stint. It's also not the first time he's referenced improvements for the program after he left. At least he hopes they do well under Belichick, like all of us do. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
