For the first time in over a decade, Clemson football is facing a harsh new reality: they are no longer seen as a guaranteed national title contender. In ESPN’s recently released 2025 preseason college football outlook, the Tigers find themselves outside the Top 10, marking a notable shift in perception surrounding a program that once ruled the sport with dominance and swagger. For fans, analysts, and perhaps even the team itself, this snub is more than just a number—it’s a statement. And it may just be the wake-up call Clemson needs.
From 2015 to 2020, the Tigers were the gold standard in college football. Dabo Swinney’s squad boasted two national championships, six straight College Football Playoff appearances, and an elite pipeline of NFL-bound talent. Names like Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Tee Higgins, and Christian Wilkins helped build a dynasty that rivaled even Alabama’s in terms of consistency and success. But in the years following Lawrence’s departure, the narrative surrounding Clemson has gradually shifted—and not in their favor.
The 2024 season offered both promise and disappointment. Clemson finished with a solid 10-3 record and a bowl victory, but they never quite looked like the juggernaut they once were. Offensive inconsistency, key injuries, and recruiting misses plagued the Tigers throughout the year. Their ACC schedule wasn’t particularly daunting, yet they failed to dominate. Losses to Florida State and Notre Dame stung not just because they were defeats, but because they exposed real vulnerabilities. This wasn’t the Clemson of old. It was a team searching for its identity in a sport that evolves quickly and punishes stagnation.
So when ESPN released its 2025 preseason rankings and left Clemson out of the Top 10, the reaction was swift—and split. Some fans took offense, arguing that Clemson’s tradition and talent deserve more respect. Others saw the ranking as fair, even overdue. And while preseason rankings are inherently speculative, they do serve as a mirror of national perception. Right now, Clemson is no longer viewed as elite.
One of the most pressing concerns entering 2025 is the quarterback position. Cade Klubnik has shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency has eluded him. His mechanics improved slightly in 2024, and he managed to reduce turnovers compared to his previous campaign, but he still hasn’t shown that “it” factor that past Clemson greats brought to the table. The lack of a true alpha in the quarterback room is a sharp contrast to the Watson and Lawrence years, and until that void is filled, Clemson’s offense may continue to sputter.
It’s not just quarterback play that’s holding the Tigers back. Offensive line play has been inconsistent for years, and that trend doesn’t appear to be changing in 2025. Despite recruiting some solid talent, development has lagged, and the line has struggled against elite defensive fronts. The run game, once a reliable weapon, hasn’t looked the same since Travis Etienne departed. Will Shipley did his part during his time at Clemson, but the lack of depth and creativity in play-calling limited his impact in big games. New talent is coming in, but the question remains: will it be developed in time to matter?
Defensively, the Tigers still boast one of the best units in the ACC. That’s the good news. Barrett Carter and Peter Woods headline a fierce front seven that can cause problems for any opponent. Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin has done a respectable job keeping Clemson’s identity intact on that side of the ball, but the margin for error is thin. Without elite offensive support, even the best defenses eventually bend. Clemson can’t rely on defense alone to carry them to the College Football Playoff.
Recruiting has also become a sensitive topic around the program. While Swinney has consistently brought in Top 15 classes, Clemson hasn’t been closing on the elite prospects at the same clip as Georgia, Alabama, or even programs like Oregon and Texas. The reluctance to fully embrace the transfer portal has also hurt. In the modern landscape of college football, building and maintaining a top-tier roster requires more than just signing four-star high schoolers—it demands aggressiveness and adaptability. Clemson’s approach has been traditional, almost stubborn, and the sport has evolved around them.
Then there’s the issue of the ACC. Once a conference where Clemson reigned supreme, the gap has narrowed. Florida State has reasserted itself, Miami is slowly trending upward, and newcomers like SMU and Cal bring fresh challenges. The margin for error has disappeared. It used to be that Clemson could afford a slip-up in conference play and still make the playoff. Not anymore. The ACC doesn’t command the national respect that the SEC or Big Ten does, and if Clemson doesn’t dominate, their resume might not be enough to secure a top-four spot.
Beyond the field, there’s a sense that the program’s cultural brand—“Clemsoning” turned powerhouse—has lost some of its shine. Swinney remains one of the sport’s most respected coaches, but his resistance to NIL culture, his comments about the portal, and his occasionally tone-deaf media remarks have invited criticism. There’s a sense that while other programs are adapting and innovating, Clemson is stuck in time. That doesn’t mean Swinney can’t lead them back to the top—it means the path back will require change, introspection, and evolution.
Being left out of ESPN’s Top 10 doesn’t end Clemson’s title hopes, of course. Preseason rankings are notoriously inaccurate, and a strong September could vault the Tigers right back into the conversation. But in many ways, the ranking is less about numbers and more about narrative. Clemson is no longer feared. They are respected, sure, but not feared. Opponents no longer circle that game with dread—they see opportunity.
