Where National Analyst Ranks Clemson, Every FBS Opponent
By: Gavin Oliver August 15, 2025

This national analyst stacked up all 136 teams in the FBS based on a number of different factors.

Fox Sports national college football analyst RJ Young recently released his “Ultimate 136” college football rankings, using the following criteria:

  • Strength of schedule
  • Continuity of coaching staff
  • Returning starters
  • 2025 recruiting class
  • Transfer portal results
  • Athletic administration
  • Star players
  • Expected household names

With all that considered, where did Clemson land in Young’s FBS team rankings?

Clemson checked in at No. 6, behind his top five of No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 5 Georgia.

Here’s what Young wrote about the Tigers heading into 2025:

“Dabo Swinney not only returns quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, but he added former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to his program. Perhaps no team has proven more resilient in the CFP era than Swinney’s defending ACC champion Tigers, who have made the CFP seven out of the past 10 years.

“Clemson gets an opportunity to throw down an early marker with LSU headed to (the real) Death Valley for a Week 1 top-10 showdown. Klubnik should be surrounded by plenty of talent at wide receiver, including Antonio Williams, T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. The loss of wideout Troy Stellato to Kentucky could be made up by the return of Tyler Brown from injury. Count on Klubnik to improve on his 3,600-yard, 36-touchdown performance last year.

“On the other side of the ball, Allen has some absolute studs on his defense. EDGE T.J. Parker notched 11 sacks last year, while linebacker Sammy Brown picked up 11.5 tackles for loss. Then there’s all 315 pounds of Peter Woods, who is the best defensive tackle Clemson has seen since Christian Wilkins.”

Clemson opens the 2025 season at home on Aug. 30 against Young’s No. 8 team, LSU.

Here’s where every FBS team on Clemson’s 2025 schedule landed in Young’s rankings:

Aug. 30: vs. LSU – (No. 8)

Sept. 6: vs. Troy – (No. 89)

Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech – (No. 37)

Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse – (No. 32)

Oct. 4: at North Carolina – (No. 35)

Oct. 11: at Boston College – (No. 47)

Oct. 18: vs. SMU – (No. 24)

Nov. 1: vs. Duke – (No. 42)

Nov. 8: vs. Florida State – (No. 34)

Nov. 14 (Fri.): at Louisville – (No. 27)

Nov. 22: vs. Furman (FCS, not ranked)

Nov. 29: at South Carolina – (No. 17)