On his Always College Football show, Greg McElroy was joined by fellow ESPN college football analyst Cole Cubelic to rank the top 10 offensive lines heading into the 2025 season.
Clemson’s offensive line came in at No. 9 on their list.
There should only be more improvement for Clemson on the offensive line in 2025, considering all the experience offensive line coach Matt Luke has coming back. The Tigers return four starters, only needing to replace Marcus Tate, who served as the left guard last season.
Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh return at the two tackle spots. Walker Parks, who can play both guard and tackle, will play a sixth and final season, while Ryan Linthicum returns at center. As far as replacing Tate, the Tigers have options, most notably Harris Sewell, who has played more than 1,000 snaps across his first two seasons and only gets better the more he plays.
“I could probably start and finish this reasoning with the coach of the offensive line, Matt Luke,” McElroy said of ranking Clemson’s O-line as the ninth-best in college football. “Usually, any group that he’s in charge of, you feel pretty good about. What an addition he’s been for Dabo Swinney the last couple years.
“They bring back four out of five [starters]. I’m not concerned at all about the positions that return. They don’t put that much on the offensive line, but I do think this is a group that can, in the ACC, impose their will. And the one guy they have to replace is at left guard. Well, you lose Marcus Tate, who was a good player. In comes Harris Sewell, who’s logged a thousand career snaps in a Clemson uniform. So, I think based on continuity, production, offensive line success under Matt Luke, I feel really comfortable – I wouldn’t normally have Clemson in the top 10, but this year I do at my No. 9 spot.”
Added Cubelic, the former Auburn offensive lineman and captain, of Clemson’s O-line: “We haven’t seen this group be great a lot of times when the offense has been great, so, if they do excel, watch out for what that Clemson offense might have a chance to be.”
“When you watch how this group operates, it might not be as favorable or fun to watch as a couple of other groups, but Matt Luke has brought a little bit more of that glass-eater mentality. I thought it was an amazing hire by Dabo,” Cubelic said. “He was able to go get a former head coach and just a veteran offensive line coach. I think you’re right about the left side. I like Tristan Leigh at left tackle. I think he can be one of the better tackles in the ACC. And you plug in a guy next to him who, when you lose one, has played a ton right there for that group. So, experienced quarterback, now with four or five experienced offensive linemen up in front of him, has a chance to take a step.”
Pro Football Focus (PFF) also recently ranked the top 10 offensive lines in college football ahead of the upcoming season, and Clemson made that last as well, checking in at No. 10.
“I think it’s got a chance to be one of their better groups they’ve had,” McElroy added. “Just all things considered, I really believe that.”
You can see McElroy and Cubelic’s ranking of the top 10 offensive lines entering the 2025 season below and hear their commentary on each unit in the following video:
No. 10 – Oregon
No. 9 – Clemson
No. 8 – Auburn
No. 7 – Penn State
No. 6 – Miami
No. 5 – Utah
No. 4 – Alabama
No. 3 – Florida
No. 2 – Texas A&M
No. 1 – Notre Dame