2025 College Football Playoff Preview: Clemson Tigers

2YW62X0 CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 07: Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) during the ACC championship football game between the SMU Mustangs and the Clemson Tigers on December 7, 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Dalton Wasserman
Posted Dec 13, 2024 11:22 am EST

As we gear up for the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, we’ll provide an in-depth breakdown of each contender, recapping their journey to this point and highlighting what makes them tick.

From their biggest strengths and glaring weaknesses to the path they’ll need to navigate to claim a national championship, we’ll give you everything you need to know to get ready for this new format.

For more information about these programs and their players, subscribe to PFF+ and dive into the College Football Premium Stats database!

Clemson Tigers

Record: 10-3 (ACC Champion)

First Playoff Opponent: Texas

Season Summary

Clemson’s turbulent ride has brought it back to the playoff for the first time since 2020. The Tigers needed some help from Syracuse just to have a chance to win the ACC, but they got the job done against a tough SMU team. The Tigers have had streaks of explosiveness on offense and boast a talented young defense. The question is whether or not they will string together four good quarters against an elite team.

NCAA Scores & Schedule

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