After sneaking into the 12-team College Football Playoff last year off the back of an ACC Championship Game win over SMU, the Clemson Tigers are looking for more.
Head coach Dabo Swinney is looking to lead the Tigers to their first national title since 2018, when they were led by future number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence.
Joel Klatt thinks Clemson’s Talent Lands it in the Top-5
Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt thinks the team is on the verge of a resurgence, he said Monday.
“Here’s a team I really, really like. Really like,” Klatt said. “Dabo Swinney is going to have a group that is capable of winning the national championship. Clemson is really good. Dabo has done it before. Listen, for all the criticism that he’s gotten over the last couple of years, I’ll give it to him — man, he has stayed the course. He has been consistent.”
“… They are re-emerging at the top end of college football. I think we saw that last year. They get Cade Klubnik back; third season as a starting quarterback. He took a big step forward last year with Garrett Riley as his offensive coordinator.”
Klubnik hit career-high totals last season, recording 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and only threw six interceptions, adding 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. For Klatt, who thinks the offense will take another step forward, it was enough to rank the Tigers No. 4 in his preseason rankings.
“They found something that has been missing in recent years, which is wide receiver play,” Klatt said. “Top three wide receivers are back, with Antonio Williams being the No. 1. Two players who played really well as freshmen last year, Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore all back. Love that.
“… The defensive line has studs. Alright, let’s think back to those teams that did win national championships. What did they have on the defensive side for Brent Venables — then-coordinator — great players on the defensive line. And they’re going to have that again.”
With potential top-ten picks Peter Woods and TJ Parker on the front lines next season, the Tigers should be a formidable sight for opposing quarterbacks.
But if Clemson wants to win it all, they’ll have to get through some tough games.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
“First and last, games should be their toughest opponents,” Klatt said. “They’re going to have an opener against LSU at home, and then they’re going to have South Carolina on the road. They don’t play Miami this year.
“… Watch out for Clemson. I’m just telling you right now, Dabo Swinney is gonna have those boys back and they’re gonna be playing at a high level.”
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
