Clemson claimed the top spot in this national outlet’s ACC power rankings.

CBS Sports released its post-spring power rankings for the ACC following spring practice and the closing of the spring transfer portal window.

Clemson tops the list of all 17 teams in the conference, ahead of Miami at No. 2. 2024 ACC runner-up SMU is No. 3, with Louisville and Georgia Tech rounding out the top five.

Here’s what CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson wrote about the Tigers, who captured the ACC Championship last season en route to their first College Football Playoff appearance since 2020:

This is the most anticipated season of Clemson football in five years as the Tigers bring back an impressive collection of future pros from a group that reclaimed the ACC crown last season. They start the year at the top of the conference but also as an intriguing player in the national title picture, something that will be put to the test in Week 1 with a visit from LSU under the lights in their Death Valley.

After the primetime showdown against LSU on Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m., ABC), and then a home date against Troy on Sept. 6, Clemson will open its 2025 conference slate at Georgia Tech on Sept. 13.

Here’s where the ACC opponents on Clemson’s 2025 schedule rank in CBS Sports’ post-spring power rankings:  

• Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech (No. 5)
• Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse (No. 12)
• Oct. 4: at North Carolina (No. 9)
• Oct. 11: at Boston College (No. 13)
• Oct. 18: vs. SMU (No. 3)
• Nov. 1: vs. Duke (No. 6)
• Nov. 8: vs. Florida State (No. 7)
• Nov. 14 (Fri.): at Louisville (No. 4)