Clemson is way up there in ESPN’s post-spring Way-Too-Early Top 25.

ESPN released its latest preseason rankings this week following spring practice and movement in the transfer portal.

Clemson checked in at No. 2 – behind only Penn State – in ESPN’s updated rankings.

The Tigers (10-4, 7-1 ACC in 2024) were previously ranked No. 7 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 that ESPN published back in January after Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

In the second edition of ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, here’s what senior college football writer Mark Schlabach wrote about Clemson and the 2025 outlook for Dabo Swinney’s team, which won the 2024 ACC Championship en route to its first CFP appearance since 2020:

Much like Penn State, Clemson’s offense is stacked with a talented quarterback, deep receiver corps and an experienced offensive line coming back. The Tigers don’t have a two-player attack at tailback and that remains their biggest concern after spring practice. Last year’s leading rusher, Phil Mafah, departed for the NFL, and top backup Jay Haynes tore an ACL in the ACC championship game.

Converted wide receiver Adam Randall, and freshmen David Eziomume and Gideon Davidson might all get significant carries. Davidson was the No. 3 running back in the Class of 2025, according to ESPN Recruiting. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney also made a big move to shore up his defense, which ranked next to last in the ACC in stopping the run in 2024 (160.6 yards), luring defensive coordinator Tom Allen away from Penn State. Heldt, who had five sacks at Purdue last season, is another important player on the best defensive line in the FBS.

Texas (No. 3), Georgia (No. 4) and Ohio State (No. 5) round out the top five of ESPN’s post-spring Top 25 behind Clemson and Penn State.

LSU, which will open the 2025 season against Clemson at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30, comes in at No. 6 in the rankings.

“There’s no reason the Tigers shouldn’t be in the thick of the SEC title and CFP races after coach Brian Kelly added 18 players from the transfer portal, including several plug-and-play starters,” Schlabach wrote. “The latest addition, Haulcy, was an All-Big 12 performer in 2024. The Tigers were already returning the SEC’s most productive quarterback in Nussmeier and a deep receiver corps that only improved with Brown and Anderson. Moore and Thompson should help shore up an offensive line that lost four starters.

“Haulcy joins a secondary that had already added Delane and Cooley. Payton and Pyburn were big-time additions on the edge, and Gooden filled a much-needed role on the interior defensive line. The Tigers are going to score a ton of points in 2025, but they have to stop opponents better than a year ago, when they ranked 14th in the SEC in scoring defense (24.3 points).”

SMU is the next highest-ranked ACC team behind Clemson, with the Mustangs coming in at No. 15. Miami (No. 21) and Louisville (No. 22) are the other two ACC squads in the rankings.

Clemson doesn’t face Miami during the 2025 regular season, but the Tigers will host SMU on Oct. 18 before traveling to Louisville on Friday, Nov. 14.

South Carolina is ranked No. 13, while former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ Oklahoma team just cracked the top 25 at No. 25.  

Clemson was recently ranked No. 5 in USA Today’s too-early college football Top 25 preseason rankings and No. 4 in CBS Sports’ post-spring Top 25.