The Clemson football program has gotten plenty of love in early preseason rankings for the 2025 campaign, with many touting the Tigers as a top-10 team entering next season.

A panel of ESPN analysts believe Dabo Swinney and company could be primed for a big season. ESPN reporters recently previewed the 2025 season, and Clemson drew multiple mentions as a pick to “dominate 2025.”

“Let’s start with Clemson,” Chris Low wrote. “This should be Dabo Swinney’s best team since his last national title in 2018. QB Cade Klubnik is back for his fourth season. He has his top receivers returning. The defensive line should be much improved under the new coordinator, and most of the Tigers’ toughest games are at home.”

“Clemson won the ACC last fall and returned to the CFP without anywhere near one of its better teams under Swinney,” Adam Rittenberg wrote. “The exciting thing is that in 2025 the Tigers should be even better and more reflective of the teams that Swinney led to national championships. They have one of the nation’s most experienced quarterbacks in Klubnik, who will operate under coordinator Garrett Riley for the third straight year. Defensive line and wide receiver, two positions where Clemson has historically thrived under Swinney, are once again projected strengths.”

Added Mark Schlabach: “I agree that Penn State and Clemson have the most returning talent, at least on paper, and they could conceivably be ranked Nos. 1 and 2. I like Clemson’s path in the ACC, and for all the heat Franklin has taken at Penn State, he did a very nice job last season.”

Low also weighed in on Clemson’s defense and the plethora of D-line talent that new coordinator Tom Allen has to work with.

“Remember when Clemson was winning and playing for national championships from 2015 to 2019? The common denominator was a cadre of talented defensive linemen,” Low wrote. “The Tigers had three defensive linemen selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft and a first-rounder and second-rounder in the 2016 draft. New defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who comes over from Penn State, inherits a group of linemen in 2025 that should help return Clemson’s defense to one of the nation’s best units.

“End T.J. Parker and tackle Peter Woods are both future pros. Parker had 19.5 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles. Woods, at 6-3 and 315-pounds, has shown flashes of dominance, but look for him to have a breakout season in Allen’s attacking system. The key offseason acquisition was Purdue transfer Will Heldt at end. He had 16 quarterback pressures a year ago and will team with Parker to give Clemson a dynamic pass-rushing combo. Redshirt sophomore tackle Stephiylan Green has his best football ahead of him, and getting back sixth-year senior tackle DeMonte Capehart was a coup for the Tigers, especially if he can stay healthy. A lot of eyes will also be on five-star freshman Amare Adams.”

After winning its eighth ACC title in the last 10 years and making its seventh College Football Playoff appearance, Clemson (10-4 in 2024) will open the 2025 season with a marquee matchup against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Clemson’s 2025 schedule will once again feature a full seven-game home slate in Death Valley (LSU, Troy, Syracuse, SMU, Duke, Florida State, Furman) in addition to four road games against ACC opponents (Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Boston College, Louisville) and a road contest in the regular season finale at South Carolina.