Clemson heads into the 2025 college football season capable of competing for the national championship with a veteran roster and a potential Heisman Trophy contender in quarterback Cade Klubnik. The Tigers haven’t reached the College Football Playoff championship game in five years after four trips — and two titles — from 2015 to 2019. Coach Dabo Swinney is determined to restore Clemson’s championship pedigree. Expert Austin Hannon of Clemson247 joined Bud Elliott on the Cover 3 College Football Summer School series to preview expectations for the Tigers this fall.
What are the stakes for Clemson in 2025?
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Clemson. Eyes are firmly set on a 10th ACC title under Swinney and a much-improved seed in the CFP after barely sneaking in as the last team in the inaugural 12-team bracket last year. With a veteran core returning, expectations are sky-high — and anything less than a deep postseason run would be a disappointment.
“I think getting back there, getting to the final four would probably be the expectation, anything past that I think the fans would be happy with,” Hannon said. “But I think making the playoff and losing to an SEC team in the first round, I don’t think that that would be a win based on what they have coming back.”
Clemson boasts the second-most returning starters among Power Four teams (and Notre Dame), with a balanced roster featuring eight returnees on both offense and defense. Klubnik brings back his top three receivers — Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore and Antonio Williams — after a career-best 2024 campaign with the third-most passing touchdowns nationally (36) and only six interceptions on 486 attempts, ranking fourth in the FBS.
Klubnik may have the talent and experience to become…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/clemson-football-2025-win-total-cfp-outlook-as-national-title-expectations-return-for-dabo-swinney/
Author : Cody Nagel
Publish date : 2025-07-29 20:04:00
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