Greg McElroy Endorses Surprising College Football Powerhouse as Title Favorite

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated May 27, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Several prominent college football teams are aiming to reclaim their positions at the top of the college football landscape in 2025, following the Ohio State Buckeyes' end to their decade-long national championship drought in 2024.

One of these teams is the Clemson Tigers, who made their return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020 last season. The Tigers fell to the Texas Longhorns, losing 38-24 in the first round of the playoffs.

Clemson was once a dominant force in college football, winning national championships in 2016 and 2018 and consistently making appearances in the playoff. However, since their playoff bid in 2020, the Tigers have experienced four consecutive seasons with three or more losses.

Prior to this recent downturn, Clemson had not suffered a three-loss season since 2014, and it had not endured four or more consecutive seasons with three or more losses since a 20-year stretch from 1992 to 2011.

This season, there is much optimism, and college football analyst Cole Cubelic revealed on his radio show, "McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning," that he believes they are the favorites to win it all this season.

"There are probably three to five that I feel good about making a selection on, not to just get to the playoffs but push through," Cubelic said. "He would be a big reason that I would have Clemson to be my favorite to win the national title right now."

Greg McElroy, who co-hosts with Cubelic, supported Cubelic's statement.

"I wouldn't push back on that," McElroy said.

Clemson is determined to reclaim its championship status this year, and there is much to be excited about. The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in the nation for returning production, having won the ACC and advanced to the College Football Playoff last season. They are the only team in the country returning over 80% of their production.

One of the top players returning for Clemson this season is quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions in his second year as the starter.

In addition to Klubnik, the Tigers also welcome back defensive tackle Peter Woods, edge rusher T.J. Parker, linebacker Sammy Brown, and cornerback Avieon Terrell. All of these players, along with Klubnik, were ranked among the College Football Network's top 100 returning players in college football.

Clemson will kick off the season with a key matchup against the LSU Tigers at home on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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

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