As the 2025 college football season draws near, ESPN has highlighted ten teams generating significant buzz this spring, with the Clemson Tigers standing out as a program at a crucial turning point in their quest to reclaim their championship pedigree.
Clemson has had strong seasons recently, but they’ve fallen short of their title aspirations. Central to their hopes of a resurgence is quarterback Cade Klubnik, who, under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, has been efficient in his first 26 starts, completing 64% of his passes for 52 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. However, one of the team’s key struggles has been the lack of explosive plays, averaging just 10.7 yards per completion and 9.7 yards in their seven losses.
A glimpse of offensive potential emerged during Clemson’s College Football Playoff appearance last year. Despite a loss to Texas, Klubnik connected on multiple passes of 25 yards or more, including throws of 30, 29, 28, and 27 yards. Freshman receiver T.J. Moore made an impact, recording nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Also contributing is another highly regarded freshman, Bryant Wesco Jr., who averaged 17.3 yards per catch in 2024. Coach Dabo Swinney has noted that Wesco has added 20 pounds this offseason, which should help his physicality on the field.
Defensively, Clemson is undergoing a transformation under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen, previously from Penn State. Last season, Clemson’s defense ranked 29th in defensive SP+, but hasn’t been in the top 10 since 2021. Allen’s leadership is expected to revitalize the unit. The Tigers’ challenge begins with a tough Week 1 matchup against LSU.
Spring practices will be key in determining whether Clemson can address their offensive and defensive concerns. How well they develop their downfield passing game and improve defensive cohesion will be crucial to their hopes of transitioning from conference contenders to genuine national title contenders this season.
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