Josh Pate's 2025 Clemson Football Season Preview: Questions and Predictions

Clemson's 2025 Outlook

• 🎯 Clemson enters the 2025 season with significant optimism, returning much of their core with the same head coach and offensive coordinator, and an upgraded defensive coordinator.
• 📈 They boast the #1 returning production in FBS and the best odds to win the ACC, with an over/under of nine and a half wins heavily favored.
• 🗣️ A national championship win would be a massive "I told you so" moment for Dabo Swinney, who faced criticism for not making significant coaching changes.

Defensive Concerns and Depth

• ⚠️ Despite personnel upgrades, the defense was statistically mediocre last year, ranking 49th in points per game and 69th in yards per game allowed.
• 🏈 Specific struggles included allowing over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Louisville.
• ❓ The team's depth beyond their experienced starters is a significant question mark, with a reliance on underclassmen who played heavily last year.

Big Game Performance and Schedule

• 🏆 A key question is whether Clemson can perform in big games, having lost to Georgia, Louisville, South Carolina, and Texas last season.
• 🗓️ The schedule is considered tough, especially within the ACC, with potential challenges from LSU, Georgia Tech, Louisville, South Carolina, and Miami.
• 🚀 To win a national title, they will need to defeat multiple top-tier playoff teams.

Quarterback and Offensive Ground Game

• 🌟 The quarterback position, led by Cade Klubnik, is considered the team's best unit, with expectations for him to maintain or improve his previous season's performance.
• 🏃‍♂️ With Phil Mafah gone, the team needs to establish an adequate ground game to complement Klubnik's dual-threat abilities.
• 💡 The breakout player to watch is true freshman tailback Gideon Davidson, who is expected to provide a complementary rushing attack.

Season Projections

• 💯 The best-case scenario for Clemson is an undefeated 12-0 season, with the team expected to be favored in most games.
• 📉 The model's worst-case scenario is seven wins, though this is considered unlikely.
• 📊 The model projects a 10-2 record, with potential losses to LSU and South Carolina, or two conference games, leaving their playoff chances uncertain.