College Football Playoff Shocker: Clemson Projected for Undefeated National Title Run originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
CLEMSON, SC – As college football media days ignite the 2025 season, the postseason chatter is already reaching a fever pitch, and for Clemson fans, the forecast is nothing short of a dream scenario! In the first seismic edition of 2025-2026 college football bowl projections, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers are not just making the College Football Playoff – they’re projected as the undisputed No. 1 overall seed, slated to run the table all the way to a National Championship, according to PFSN.
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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney with running back Phil Mafah (7) and safety Khalil Barnes (7) before a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Memorial Stadium.Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
This isn’t just wishful thinking; the projection paints a picture of a “throwback team” for Clemson, built on a foundation of “rock-solid defense” and powered by a “talented offense.” The analysis suggests the Tigers possess arguably the “best roster, top to bottom, in the country.”
CLEMSON’S ROAD TO GLORY: A PROJECTED PLAYOFF PATHQuarterfinal Showdown: Orange Bowl vs. No. 8 LSU Tigers
Clemson’s playoff journey kicks off in South Florida with a highly anticipated “clash of Tigers” against LSU. While Garrett Nussmeier leads a potent LSU offense, the projection confidently states that “Clemson might be the very best in 2025.” The Tigers’ defensive line, a unit dubbed the “new Power Rangers” featuring T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, DeMonte Capehart, and Will Heldt, is expected to wreak havoc. Add in true sophomore linebacker Sammy Brown, already making a claim as one of the nation’s top linebackers, and “legitimate CB1” Avieon Terrell, and LSU will face a suffocating defense.
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Semifinal Battle: Peach Bowl vs. No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes
In a classic postseason rivalry, Clemson is projected to face Ohio State once again in a New Year’s Six bowl. This highly anticipated matchup has been a staple in past Sugar, Fiesta, and Orange Bowls, but now could add the Peach Bowl to its storied history. Clemson holds a commanding 4-1 all-time record against the Buckeyes (3-1 in the postseason), and the projection gives the Tigers a distinct advantage. With Cade Klubnik now a more experienced quarterback “at the top of his development arc,” coupled with superior offensive and defensive lines, Clemson is predicted to win this trench warfare, “possibly even comfortably.”
National Championship Game: Hard Rock Stadium vs. No. 2 Texas Longhorns
The ultimate prize! Our projections see a “sea of orange” flooding Hard Rock Stadium as the No. 1 Clemson Tigers square off against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns for the national title. This dream matchup pits “two dominant, destructive, and downright nasty defenses” against “two offenses packed with playmakers,” led by two of the nation’s top head coaches.
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While Texas’s defense graded highly last season, the “development of a young Clemson defense into one of the best in the country should be a significant factor.” For Texas’s Arch Manning, this would be an unparalleled test in his first year as a starter.
The ceiling for this Clemson team? A national title – their first since 2018. If these early projections hold true, the 2025 season will culminate in a championship celebration for Dabo’s Tigers, fueled by elite talent, a relentless defense, and a quarterback primed for greatness. Get ready, the playoff race starts NOW!
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.