Clemson enters the 2025 college football season set to compete for the national title, featuring a veteran squad and a potential Heisman contender in quarterback Cade Klubnik. The Tigers have not made it to the College Football Playoff championship game in five years, a period during which they reached the game four times and won twice from 2015 to 2019. Coach Dabo Swinney aims to restore Clemson’s championship legacy.

What are the stakes for Clemson in 2025?

The stakes are extremely high for Clemson. The team is aiming for a tenth ACC title under Swinney and a strong seed in the CFP after barely making it as the last team in the inaugural 12-team bracket last season. With a veteran roster back, expectations are lofty—anything less than a postseason deep run would be seen as a letdown.

“I think reaching the final four is the expectation; anything beyond that would delight the fans,” Hannon noted. However, losing in the first round to an SEC team wouldn’t be regarded as a success considering the talent returning.

Clemson features the second-most https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-returning-production-for-2025-season-list-of-starters-coming-back-for-every-power-four-team/ players maintaining their starting positions (as does Notre Dame), with eight experienced players returning on both offense and defense. Klubnik’s top three receivers—Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore, and Antonio Williams—are back as well, following a record-setting 2024 season highlighting the third-most passing touchdowns in the country (36) with just six interceptions on 486 attempts.

Klubnik has the potential to emerge as Clemson’s first-ever Heisman winner.

Breakout player everybody needs to know

On the defensive side, Clemson also has veterans, but younger athletes must rise—especially at cornerback alongside second-team All-ACC player Avieon Terrell. Sophomore Ashton Hampton, who made four starts and appeared in all 14 games as a freshman, is being positioned as the frontrunner to step into that role.

“I really like Ashton Hampton as another cornerback,” Hannon stated. “He is a tall, physical player who gained valuable experience down the stretch last season. He had a memorable one-handed interception in Blacksburg that clinched the game against Virginia Tech.”

That sensational play was one of two interceptions recorded by Hampton in 2024, with the other being a 58-yard pick-six in a Week 4 victory over NC State.

Win total outlook

The projected win total for Clemson is 9.5 with odds favoring the over, as per FanDuel Sportsbook. History is on their side, achieving at least nine regular-season wins in 12 of the last 13 years. However, the season opener against LSU at home will be critical in establishing the team’s momentum.

“Anything less than 11-1 would feel like a disappointment for Clemson,” Hannon emphasized.

The Tigers are positioned as the clear favorites in the ACC, entering the season with the best odds (+105) to win the conference title. Nonetheless, challenging away matches against Georgia Tech and Louisville are looming concerns, along with a rematch of last year’s ACC title clash with SMU, and the rivalry season finale against South Carolina, which always seems to carry heightened emotions regardless of the records.