Clemson Football 2025 Season Preview: Way-Too-Early Predictions, Odds & Schedule
There was a time in early September when it looked like Clemson's reign as a college football powerhouse could be closing quickly for head coach Dabo Swinney and Co.
Instead, the Tigers rallied for another 10-win season before a 38-24 loss to Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff. They'll hope a top-heavy recruiting class and change in approach to the transfer portal can help secure their first title since 2018 - especially if QB Cade Klubnik returns for his senior season.
We're breaking it all down in our Clemson football 2025 season preview with way-too-early predictions, odds, schedule, and transfer portal updates.
Clemson football title odds 2025
Live updated college football odds from our best college football betting sites.
We're still awaiting the opening odds for next year's college football championship odds, but Clemson should be among the second or third tier of betting favorites if Klubnik returns to a team that reached the College Football Playoff last season.
A three-year starter and two-time ACC Championship Game MVP, Klubnik was a key reason why the Tigers opened at +2500 to win the national championship entering last season. I'd be surprised if their odds are shorter next year unless they snag a few high-level stars in the transfer portal, but they'll be in the title mix in 2025.
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2025 Clemson football offseason preview
Projected roster movement as of Saturday, Dec. 21 and subject to change. All prospect rankings and positions courtesy of 247 Composite Recruit Rankings.
2025 Clemson football key returning players (projected)
- Cade Klubnik, QB
- Antonio Williams, WR
- Bryant Wesco Jr., WR
- T.J. Moore, WR
- Tyler Brown, WR
- Tristan Leigh, LT
- Walker Parks, RG
- Ryan Linthicum, C
- Blake Miller, RT
- Jaheim Lawson, DE
- T.J. Parker, DE
- Peter Woods, DT
- Kobe McCloud, LB
- Sammy Brown, LB
- Wade Woodaz, LB
- Ashton Hampton, CB
- Avieon Terrell, CB
- Jeadyn Lukus, CB
- Khalil Barnes, FS
- Kylon Griffin, SS
Will he stay or will he go? Klubnik would be among the Heisman Trophy odds favorites if he opts to return for his senior season, and his decision will have a major impact on Clemson's outlook next season and could entice a few of his teammates (or incoming transfer targets) to commit to the Tigers ahead of next season.
Klubnik, Antonio Williams, Blake Miller, and Wade Woodaz could all opt to pursue their 2025 NFL Draft odds, though Swinney seems optimistic that his team will retain its core starters and won't lose any key contributors to the transfer portal. If that's the case, expect this defense to be one of the best in the country in 2025.
2025 Clemson football key losses, transfer portal updates
- Phil Mafah, RB (graduation)
- Noble Johnson, WR (transfer portal)
- Troy Stellato, WR (transfer portal)
- Jake Briningstool, TE (graduation)
- Marcus Tate, LG (graduation)
- Payton Page, DT (graduation)
- Barrett Carter, LB (graduation)
- R.J. Mickens, FS (graduation)
- Sherrod Covil Jr., FS (transfer portal)
- Tyler Venables, SS (graduation)
It hurts to lose a star rusher in Phil Mafah and stud linebacker in Barrett Carter, but Clemson should retain the lion's share of its production on both sides of the ball. It will need to fill out its pass-catching depth with receivers Noble Johnson and Troy Stellato entering the transfer portal and Jake Briningstool moving on.
Carter and R.J. Mickens ranked first and fourth, respectively, in tackles for the Tigers last season entering the playoff, and Sherrod Covil Jr. transferring away would leave this team even thinner on the back end. It helps to return safety Khalil Barnes, who finished with a team-high four interceptions in the regular season
, and cornerback Avieon Terrell, who led the unit with 10 deflections.
2025 Clemson football recruits, transfer commits
- Amare Adams, DL (No. 43 national, No. 1 SC)
- Gideon Davidson, RB (No. 55 national, No. 1 VA)
- Ari Watford, ED (No. 162 national, No. 4 VA)
- Marquise Henderson, RB (No. 199 national, No. 5 SC)
- Brayden Jacobs, OT (No. 205 national, No. 32 GA)
- Logan Anderson, LB (No. 255 national, No. 16 AL)
- Tristan Smith, WR (transfer from Louisville)
- Will Heldt, ED (transfer from Purdue)
This is set to be the Tigers' worst-ranked recruiting class (27th) since 2010, which was also the last time they finished with a losing record (6-7). Yet this is still a compelling group led by top-50 recruits in Amare Adams and Gideon Davidson - both the best prospect in their state who could secure early roles at Clemson.
After essentially boycotting the transfer portal since its inception in 2018, Swinney and his staff have already dipped into the waters with a pair of transfers in Tristan Smith and Will Heldt. If the floodgates open to the Palmetto State, we could be looking at a return to supremacy for Clemson football in 2025.
2025 Clemson football schedule
Follow the latest college football scores along with our college football picks.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Last meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Aug. 30 | LSU | Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, La.) | L, 42-25 (2020) |
| Saturday, Sept. 6 | Troy | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | W, 30-24 (2016) |
| Saturday, Nov. 22 | Furman^ | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | W, 35-12 (2022) |
| Saturday, Nov. 29 | South Carolina | Williams-Brice Stadium (Columbia, S.C.) | L, 17-14 (2024) |
| TBD | Boston College* | Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) | W, 31-3 (2022) |
| TBD | Duke* | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | L, 28-7 (2023) |
| TBD | Florida State* | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | W, 29-13 (2024) |
| TBD | Georgia Tech* | Bobby Dodd Stadium (Atlanta, Ga.) | W, 42-21 (2023) |
| TBD | Louisville* | L&N Stadium (Louisville, Ky.) | L, 33-21 (2024) |
| TBD | North Carolina* | Kenan Memorial Stadium (Chapel Hill, N.C.) | W, 31-20 (2023) |
| TBD | SMU* | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | W, 34-31 (2024) |
| TBD | Syracuse* | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | W, 31-14 (2023) |
*Conference matchup | ^FCS opponent
We're waiting for the ACC to release its conference schedule before we know the full schedule details for Clemson football in 2025. But it's already shaping up to be a tough test from beginning to end for the Tigers.
Their season opens against LSU at Tiger Stadium - which is perhaps the toughest place to play in college football - and closes on the road against rival South Carolina. In between are dates with Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, and SMU in what should be a more competitive year for the ACC.
Clemson football 2025 way-too-early prediction & expert analysis
If Clemson returns the draft-eligible talent it's expected to - specifically Klubnik, Miller, and Williams on offense - it should open as a top-10 team in the country and the favorite to win the ACC.
The Tigers could have one of the best offensive lines in the country protecting a top senior NFL draft prospect at QB. With several talented receivers emerging, specifically Bryant Wesco Jr., the sky's the limit. Meanwhile, the defense is poised to be ferocious and could have a dominant front line led by T.J. Parker and Peter Woods - both potential first-round picks.
Thanks to how weak the ACC is, Clemson's win total will likely be set at 9.5, and I like the Over if the talent we're expecting back is in fact back. While the Tigers have SMU on their schedule, they get the Mustangs at home and don't play Miami in 2025.
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