Paul Finebaum is one of the most outspoken analysts in the college football world. He often gives big and bold takes on how different teams will perform. As the 2025 college football season approaches, many analysts are starting to look at which teams will qualify for the college football playoff.
While there is always a lot of excitement around the SEC and Big Ten, Paul Finebaum appeared on “First Take” on Friday and spoke about an ACC powerhouse he thinks is a no-brainer to make the playoff. After winning the ACC championship last season, Finebaum believes that Clemson is close to a lock to qualify for the college football playoff this year.
“I think they’re a sure thing to get back (to the CFP) and they may even (have) a legitimate shot at winning the title,” Finebaum said (1:15). “They have, in my mind, the best quarterback in the country in Cade Klubnik, they have an elite defense with perhaps 3 (first-round) picks on there, and Dabo Swinney, even though he’s fallen off the face of the Earth for a while, he’s back and I think this is his best team since his last national championship appearance in ’19.
Clemson lost in the first round of the college football playoff last season to the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns would advance to the semifinal of the playoff before being eliminated.
ESPN Analyst Kevin Clark Pushes Back on Paul Finebaum’s Comments
While Paul Finebaum is confident that the Clemson Tigers will qualify for the college football playoff, not everyone agrees with him. After making his comments about quarterback Cade Klubnik and the Clemson Tigers, analyst Kevin Clark pushed back, showing his doubt in the team.
“I actually think LSU wins Week 1,” Clark said (2:50). “With Klubnik, it all comes down to whether he can reach the heights of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence. The reason I say that is because they haven’t recruited at the level they did a decade ago. You look at those rosters when they won national championships, there were NFL bodies at every single part of the field. Now, it’s more of a top-heavy thing.
“They’re not on the trail like they used to, getting as many 5-stars as they did a decade ago. It comes down to whether Cade Klubnik is going to be able to elevate that roster to the big boys, to LSU, to a team they play in the CFP.”
The Clemson Tigers are scheduled to start their season on Saturday, August 30, against the LSU Tigers.
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