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Clemson

Scott Van Pelt believes in Clemson most entering 2025 season

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko08/24/25nickkosko59
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Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt is all in on Clemson for the 2025 season. He believes in the Tigers perhaps more than any other team this Fall.

The Tigers bring back a lot, including QB Cade Klubnik fresh off a career year, and two potential first round picks on the defensive line in TJ Parker and Peter Woods. Not to mention, overall, this could be one of Dabo Swinney’s most talented teams.

They’re the favorite in the ACC and a popular pick to finish high in the College Football Playoff rankings. Van Pelt might be on the Clemson train all season long.

“I’m (all in) on Clemson. I’m just telling you,” Van Pelt said on See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack. “That’s their saying in Clemson … I have very little that I feel as and I’m not certain about that, that’s the thing I feel best about. The team that I believe in the most, that I just, I felt like I saw it last year. They’ve invested within their program. They’ve retained the people that matter. They’ve got freaks on defense and Klubnik, I think, can do it. And you saw those young receivers grow throughout the year last year. That’s a team I really like.”

Clemson also added defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who spent the 2024 season coaching the Penn State defense. It seems, just like their motto, Clemson is going all in.

Wide receivers TJ Moore, Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr. highlight an intriguing trio. There’s also freshman back Gideon Davidson, who should see a big role for Clemson’s offense.

In recent years, guys like ESPN”s Paul Finebaum hasn’t hesitated to criticize Swinney for his conservative approach to the ever-changing college football landscape. However, with Clemson shaping up to be one of the best teams in college football this fall, Finebaum is suddenly changing his tune.

“For a relatively young guy, Dabo looks very old-school and very smart right now,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “I’ve been critical as well. So most of us are in the camp of having tentatively written him off, but he has his best team, probably since 2019 and/or 2018 — one of those years when Trevor Lawrence was roaming the sidelines.

“Quite frankly, I think they’re among the two or three most likely national championship contenders. They have it all.”