A little over four months stand between fans and the start of the 2025 season. Clemson football fans are chomping at the bit to get things started as the Tigers are projected to be one of the best teams in the country yet again.
As a projected top-five team heading into the summer, Clemson has a ton of expectations to live up to. Dabo Swinney knows that this could be a special year if his team plays the way it's capable of.
While the Tigers are a projected top-five team, they will be facing some intense roadblocks on the way to their second straight playoff berth and another ACC title.
Teams like LSU (to open the season), Georgia Tech, SMU, Louisville, and South Carolina present tough tests, but with those potential ranked battles come some creampuffs along the way.
Which three opponents in 2025 act as bye weeks?
1. Troy (Sept. 6)
Troy was an easy choice here and it comes a week after playing LSU at Memorial Stadium. This will be a nice change-of-pace after what should be an emotional season opener against Brian Kelly. Troy was just 4-8 a year ago, losing to Memphis by 21 and Iowa by 17, starting the season 1-7 before winning three of its last four games. This could be a bloodbath in Week 2 and starters will be coming out at halftime.
2. Syracuse (Sept. 20)
Two straight bye weeks after going to Georgia Tech in Week 3 for a huge ACC showdown? That's what I'm thinking here with Syracuse on the schedule immediately following Georgia Tech and with a bye approaching on Sept. 27. Now don't get me wrong, I like Fran Brown and what he's doing at Syracuse, but after losing Kyle McCord, I think the Orange will take a sizable step back in 2025.
3. Furman (Nov. 22)
This bye week will come at the perfect time, sandwiched in between a bout with a potentially-ranked Louiville team on the road on Nov. 14 and then a showdown with top rival and SEC contender South Carolina to end the season on Nov. 29. Having this "bye" week split those games up will be important and this should be a fairly stress-free win for Dabo and Co.
I almost included Florida State on this list to ruffle some feathers, but I do think the Seminoles figure it out in 2025 and get back on track.