Last year, Clemson made its first College Football Playoff appearance since the 2020 season. Now, the Tigers are looking to make the 12-team playoff once again and make a run at their first national championship since 2018.

But what are realistic expectations for Clemson in the upcoming season?

ACC Network analysts Eric Mac Lain and Roddy Jones weighed in on that question recently while previewing the Tigers’ 2025 campaign.

Considering the roster, talent level and returning production that Clemson boasts, Mac Lain believes the Tigers must make it to the semifinals of the 12-team College Football Playoff this season.

“It’s gotta be final four or bust,” said Mac Lain, the former Clemson and first-team All-ACC offensive lineman.

“I know that’s a big expectation. I totally get it. But it is time. This is the best team that Clemson has had, on paper, since probably 2020 – Trevor Lawrence’s last year. So, you have to do it. You have to take advantage of this schedule.”

Jones, the former Georgia Tech starting running back and team captain, said he “could not agree more” with Mac Lain as far as the expectations for Clemson in 2025.

“Expectation is ACC Championship, first-round CFP bye, and then win one game in the CFP to get to that final four,” Jones said.

This will mark the second year of the 12-team playoff, but the format has been adjusted. The 12-team CFP is moving to straight seeding this season, meaning the teams ranked No. 1 through No. 12 will be seeded directly on the rankings.

With the straight seeding model, the top four teams in the selection committee’s rankings will get the top four seeds and receive first-round byes, whether or not they are a conference champion. The five highest-ranked conference champs will still get automatic playoff spots, but will be seeded based on their ranking.

Mac Lain and Jones also touched on what could be the toughest ACC games on Clemson’s schedule.

“Georgia Tech is not going to be easy. At Georgia Tech,” Mac Lain said.

“At Louisville, at Georgia Tech,” Jones said.

“And then SMU, of course,” Mac Lain added. “It’s a tough little schedule.”

Of course, that game against SMU at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 18 will be a rematch of the teams’ thrilling 2024 ACC Championship Game. The Tigers and Mustangs met for the first time in series history last December when Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard walk-off field goal gave Clemson its record 22nd ACC title and sent the Tigers to their seventh College Football Playoff.

After the highly anticipated season-opening showdown against LSU at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30, and then a home date vs. Troy on Sept. 6, Clemson will open ACC play on Sept. 13 when the Tigers face Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Clemson’s last road game at Georgia Tech was played at Mercedes Benz Stadium in 2022, so this year’s contest will mark Clemson’s first trip to Bobby Dodd Stadium since 2020.