ESPN has Clemson outside of the Top 10 in their 2025 preseason outlook
ESPN's newly released Football Power Index may have sparked some buzz, but its view on Clemson is raising eyebrows for all the wrong reasons. The Tigers came in at No. 11 overall — and, even more puzzling, behind Miami in the ACC pecking order.
Despite finishing last season with momentum and boasting one of the most complete rosters in the country, Clemson finds itself ranked behind a Hurricanes team that just swapped out a Heisman finalist for a quarterback recovering from a torn UCL.
Even ESPN's own experts think the FPI got it wrong.
'I think you can argue that Clemson is one of the two best teams in the FBS entering the season (along with Penn State), and it's certainly one of the best 10, so it's surprising to see them in at No. 11,' said ESPN's Mark Schlabach. 'In our colleague Jordan Reid's initial 2026 NFL mock draft, he had four Tigers going in the first round, including quarterback Cade Klubnik at No. 1.'
Klubnik's rise has been meteoric. Once a question mark, he's now viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick after throwing for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions last season. He'll lead an offense that ESPN still ranks as the eighth-best in the country — but somehow not good enough to crack the FPI's Top 10.
Defensively, Clemson is as loaded as it gets. Tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher T.J. Parker are projected top-10 picks, anchoring what many view as the most dominant defensive front in the nation. Yet, ESPN's FPI has the Tigers' defense rated just No. 15 nationally.
That's a head-scratcher, especially considering Clemson's relatively favorable schedule. While the Tigers open with a high-profile matchup against No. 12 LSU, the rest of the slate features only two other opponents in the Top 20 (No. 15 South Carolina and No. 20 SMU). Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, and the rest of the ACC trail far behind.
Even ESPN's Paolo Uggetti questioned Miami's spot at No. 9, saying, 'I'm having a hard time with Miami all the way up at No. 9... Count me among the skeptics.'
Clemson still holds the seventh-best odds to make the College Football Playoff (47.3%) and win the national title (3.8%), according to the FPI — but that's a ceiling far below what many think the Tigers are capable of reaching.
So while the metrics may say No. 11, the eye test — and ESPN's own analysts — suggest Clemson should be firmly in the national title conversation.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney chimes in on if Clemson or LSU is the real Death Valley
Dabo Swinney didn't dodge the question when asked on SportsCenter at ACC Media Days about the latest jab from LSU head coach Brian Kelly. With Clemson and LSU set to square off to begin the 2025 season, the long-running debate over which school owns the title of 'Death Valley' has once again taken center stage. 'Well, I think, first of all, both programs are for real. These are two great programs. We've met a couple times over the years. Great respect for LSU,' Swinney said. 'But I think if you just Google Coach McMillian, who was the head coach at PC — you can go and do that research on your own. But all that matters is how we handle our business in Clemson, South Carolina, on August 30th. So, that's our focus. But that stuff is historical facts, so I'll let you do the research on that. You can report back. I'll be tuned in for your report. You have a homework assignment.' Swinney was referring to Lonnie McMillian, the former head coach at Presbyterian College, who famously dubbed Clemson's Memorial Stadium 'Death Valley' after a 76-0 loss to the Tigers in 1945. Each time his team made the trip to Clemson, McMillian would tell reporters, 'I'm taking my boys to Death Valley.' The nickname stuck, and the media ran with it. By the mid-1940s, Clemson had fully adopted the label. Meanwhile, LSU didn't begin calling Tiger Stadium 'Death Valley' until 1959, and the name didn't really gain national recognition until several decades later. Clemson and Presbyterian opened every season from 1930 to 1957, giving McMillian plenty of opportunities to use the now-famous phrase. Over time, it became a staple of Clemson football tradition. Now, with both programs ranked among the sport's elite, the debate over which Death Valley is the 'real' one has added fuel ahead of their highly anticipated matchup. That answer might become a little clearer on August 30, when LSU makes the trip to Memorial Stadium in Clemson to open the 2025 college football season. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
ESPN names Ohio State as a college basketball team that could 'make a jump' this season
We are all getting ready for the start of the college football season now just a little over a month away, but the college basketball season won't be too far behind. In fact, we're now within 100 days of the Ohio State basketball season, and ESPN took a big look at previewing hoops for 2025-2026 by looking at many different angles and storylines. One of the things Myron Metcalf and Jeff Borzello touched on was ten teams that "could make a jump" this coming season. And, if you are an Ohio State fan, then you have to like what the ESPN duo things of the Buckeyes this season because they were named as one of those ten teams. OSU was able to retain some key pieces of its core group, but outside of that, there's been a major overhaul of the guys suiting up in the scarlet and gray this season. The mix of old and new will have to come together for the Buckeyes to get back to the NCAA Tournament, but there's good reason to believe that it could happen. Here's what Borzello says about Ohio State this winter: "The Buckeyes showed flashes of their potential last season but couldn't quite string together a consistent run of form. With a terrific trio back in Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. -- plus the additions of Christoph Tilly and Brandon Noel up front -- Jake Diebler's team should find itself in the NCAA tournament." It sure seems like Ohio State hasn't had a shortage of talent over the last few years, but getting the team to come together and play as a team has been an issue that seems to be a problem in today's day and age of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness. Here's to hoping ESPN is right and that the Buckeyes make it back to meaningful games late and on into the postseason this basketball season. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Red Sox manager Alex Cora claims ESPN 'made s--- up' about MLB trade rumors during his time at network
With less than one week left before the MLB trade deadline passes, teams are revving up the phones, while players await their fates for the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond. Players will tell you they try to keep the outside noise just that – outside. But it's hard not to see it coming up on social media feeds, sports talk shows, and more avenues of acquiring news. However, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora doesn't want his players to believe everything they hear and read. He singled out one outlet in particular – the one he used to work for. "I can tell them stories about ESPN in the green room, how people made s--- up – you know, trades," Cora said to reporters on Sunday. "And I can tell them that don't believe everything that is said, you know?" Cora is aware the trade deadline rumors are what fans want to see, as teams try to make their squads better or look ahead to the future by dealing away top talent for future assets. "You get into any social platform, and if you're looking for baseball, then your feed is going to be full of baseball stories, right?" Cora continued. "And there's a lot of people that are very responsible with their trades, rumors and their contacts. Others, they're not. So just block it." A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that ESPN stands by its reporting, though it wasn't clear what Cora, who departed the company nearly 10 years ago to join the Houston Astros' coaching staff, was referring to. "I got stories, man. I don't wanna bury people," Cora said when a reporter asked who at ESPN he was referring to. Cora understands how tough the trade deadline can be from a player perspective considering his 14 seasons as one in MLB. The Red Sox are one of those teams with a rabid fan base always watching to see what they're going to do this time of year. It's also worth noting that one of the top trade names going around is Jarren Duran, the team's All-Star outfielder who could be on the move before 6 p.m. on Thursday. Boston, though, currently sits in a good playoff position out of a tough AL East division at 57-50. They own the second Wild Card slot in the American League, just behind their division-rival New York Yankees.
