Indiana proved last season just how much experience can matter, as the Hoosiers’ veteran-laden team captured a national title.

At the same time, Clemson returned a bulk of its production from the 2024 team last season, and stumbled to a 7-6 record, so it is far from an exact science. However, it’s hard to dismiss the notion that experience matters, and the Tigers are somewhat lacking in that department heading into the upcoming season, ranking near the bottom of the ACC.

David Hale of ESPN ranked all ACC teams by the number of total FCS and FBS stats, with the Tigers slotted at No. 23 with 23,916 total snaps and 53% of its production returning. Only Syracuse and North Carolina come into the season with less total snaps.

Virginia comes into the season as the most experienced team and by a wide margin, with 48,213 total snaps. Wake Forest (39,348 snaps), Louisville (38,312), SMU (34,411) and Cal (33,754) round out the top five.

Miami, who is the favorite to win the conference, sits at No. 11 with 29,071 snaps. The Hurricanes rank No. 7 in the recently released AP Poll. Hale included independent Notre Dame in the ACC rankings, with the Irish at No. 13, with 26,509 snaps and 72% of its production from last season returning. Notre Dame is a preseason Top 5 team in the AP Poll.

With so many unknowns facing this Clemson team, the Tigers are going to come into the season unranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 2011.

Dabo Swinney’s team will begin the season with a road matchup at No. 11 LSU on September 5. The Bayou Bengals rank No. 6 in the SEC with 33,637 total snaps. The rival Gamecocks rank No. 2 with 37,578 snaps.