Clemson’s Season is Historically Disappointing

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Sep 20, 2025 7:11 PM ET

Remember when Clemson was No. 6 in the AP preseason poll? You should, considering it was only a couple of weeks ago. However, after today’s disturbing 34-21 loss at home to Syracuse, it seems like it was years ago, not weeks.

Now 1-3, this is already a lost season in Death Valley. It began with hopes of a legitimate run to the National Championship and now will likely end in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl or Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Nobody saw this coming.

It is difficult to understand how we got here. The Tigers have a multitude of NFL talent on both sides of the ball, a veteran quarterback, Cade Klubnik, and an experienced head coach, Dabo Swinney, who has been through the fires. Yet, in three P4 games they have scored 52 points.

Sep 20, 2025; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson running back Adam Randall (8) sits on the bench at the end of the third quarter against the Syracuse Orange at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard/GREENVILLE NEWS-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

While it won’t help Clemson fans feel any better, this Tigers’ disaster is far from the first time that a highly ranked team has collapsed. Here is a listing of some examples from this century:

2012: No. 1 USC – Finished 7-6 and unranked
2005: No. 3 Tennessee – Finished 5-6 and unranked
2010: No. 5 Texas – Finished 5-7 and unranked
2008: No. 10 Auburn – Finished 5-7 and unranked

It is impossible to know how starting 1-3 will affect this team. Will they get angry and play better or will they continue to unravel? Only time will tell, but after today’s performance it is difficult to assume that any game will be a guaranteed win. And that’s saying a lot, considering a few weeks ago they were one of the favorites to win the National Championship.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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