College Football Powerhouse Leads Nation In Returning Production For 2025 Season

"The only current members of the 80% club, Dabo Swinney's Tigers are awfully tantalizing at the moment," Connelly wrote. "The defense returns 13 of 18 players with 200-plus snaps and adds a star pass rusher in Purdue's Will Heldt."

Clemson's young defense didn't dominate the stat sheet in 2024, but the group's overall talent makeup is certainly intriguing with another year under their belts. Defensive linemen Peter Woods and TJ Parker return alongside star linebacker Sammy Brown and cornerback Avieon Terrell. 

Offensively, star quarterback Cade Klubnik is back after a breakout junior season. Clemson will have to replace tailback Phil Mafah, however, Klubnik's top options return on the outside. 

"The offense, meanwhile, returns eight starters, including quarterback Cade Klubnik and a delightful trio of receivers in senior Antonio Williams and sophomores Bryant Wesco Jr. and CFP star T.J. Moore," Connelly wrote. "(They should also get a full-strength Tyler Brown back; the 2023 freshman All-American was injured for much of 2024.)"

Before Clemson's down season in 2023, the Tigers had put together 12-straight seasons of at least 10 wins. Swinney has led the Tigers to a pair of national championships (2016, 2018) while playing for two more since 2009. 

According to SP+, Clemson's squad should be their best team over the last five years.

"After ranking sixth or better in SP+ for six straight seasons from 2015 to 2020, Clemson has averaged a ranking of only 18.5 since," Connelly wrote. "This should be its highest-upside team in five years."

Given the production returning, Swinney's shift to using the transfer portal and the hiring of acclaimed defensive coordinator Tom Allen from Penn State, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Tigers contend for a national title in 2025. 

Clemson will open the season at home against LSU on Aug. 30.