Where Clemson landed in Phil Steele's preseason ACC football rankings for 2025
Steele's confidence in Dabo Swinney's squad isn't new — he's already rated six of Clemson's seven position groups among the nation's top 10, with five cracking the top three. Now, his preseason poll places the Tigers just outside the top five, trailing only a handful of blueblood contenders.
Penn State tops Steele's list as his early national favorite at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, which breaks up the SEC and Big Ten dominance by claiming the second spot. Texas, Alabama and the defending national champion Ohio State round out the top five ahead of Clemson, setting up a familiar playoff chase.
Closer to home, the Tigers easily lead all ACC teams in Steele's projections. Miami checks in next at No. 14, while SMU — one of the league's newest members — appears at No. 23. Louisville, Pitt, and Florida State hover in the next tier, but none come close to matching the expectations surrounding Clemson's loaded roster.
The Tigers return plenty of proven talent on both sides of the ball, with Cade Klubnik back under center, a deep defensive front anchored by T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, and go-to receiver Antonio Williams ready to make another leap. It all adds up to Steele viewing Clemson as not just the team to beat in the ACC but a serious threat to crash the College Football Playoff again. After ending their postseason drought last year, the Tigers now have a clear target on their back — and a growing sense they're right where they belong.
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