Heading into the 2025 season, there is growing buzz around the Clemson Tigers. With senior quarterback Cade Klubnik returning, strong weapons on offense, and a standout defense, Clemson has the pieces to contend for a national title.
In the first coaches’ poll of 2025, the Tigers were ranked in the top ten. While that is a strong ranking, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes Clemson is still underrated, though he remains unconvinced they will finish as one of the top teams in the country this season.
Paul Finebaum Says Clemson Is Underrated, But Still Has Doubts
The Tigers finished 2024 with a strong season, winning the ACC championship and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. Although they lost their first playoff game against Texas, they return a lot of talent and are expected to be one of the nation’s best teams in 2025.
The preseason coaches’ poll reflected Clemson’s high expectations, ranking the Tigers as the sixth-best team heading into the season.
BREAKING: College Football Preseason Coaches Poll👀https://t.co/UOHDaVDFxk pic.twitter.com/ouboz88vXu
— On3 (@On3sports) August 4, 2025
While that is already a strong position, ESPN analyst Heather Dinich said on “Get Up” that Clemson deserves to be ranked even higher.
Paul Finebaum agreed that the No. 6 ranking might be a little low, but he still expressed doubts about the Tigers based on their performance against non-conference opponents in 2024.
.@CFBHeather believes Clemson is underrated this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/9U8MM2SCb1
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 5, 2025
“Clemson is outstanding, I think they are underrated,” Finebaum said. “The problem is, Clemson, they lost to Georgia badly at the beginning of last year, they lost at home to South Carolina, they looked average in their playoff game, so it’s hard to wrap one’s arm around them right now.”
On one hand, Finebaum makes a valid point. While Clemson looked strong in ACC play, they did struggle against some of the top teams in the country last season.
On the other hand, this is a new year, and the Tigers return more production than any other team in the nation, with over 80 percent coming back.
Clemson has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Klubnik, who is widely projected to be a top ten pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Tigers also have a strong offensive line and a deep receiver group led by Antoino Williams, one of the top wideouts in college football.
Defensively, they might be even better. Clemson could have the best defensive end and tackle duo in the country with T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. The secondary is also stacked with talent, led by Avieion Terrell, another projected high draft pick.
The good news for Clemson fans is that a lot will be revealed early in the season. The Tigers open against SEC powerhouse LSU on August 30. A win in that game would be a strong statement that this is not the same Clemson team from a year ago.
