We are still a good four months away from conference championship week, but we're also at the point of the summer in which major media outlets and respected analysts are predicting where teams end up and who will be contending for titles. Obviously most experts are high on Clemson football.
The Tigers enter the 2025 season as the favorites to win the ACC and get back to the College Football Playoff for a second straight year and they're also considered a top-10 team in the nation.
I haven't seen many experts predict a Clemson loss in the ACC title game, although there have been a few who believe that the Tigers will fall short, contrary to popular belief.
Dabo Swinney and Co. know better than to read their own headlines, though.
At the ACC Kickoff last week, Swinney made sure to tell the media that his team isn't going to expect anything in terms of success because of headlines but they're going to work hard in order to live up to their own expectations. Nothing will be handed to them.
Well, he'll have to shield his players' eyes from a new prediction from On3 college football analyst JD Pickell who predicted his Power Four conference title winners this season.
NEW: College Football Power 4 Conference Championship Predictions via @jdpickell🏆
— On3 (@On3sports) July 29, 2025
Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/TkLwXK0SXk pic.twitter.com/fo7oZGiMkT
That's right, Pickell has Clemson winning the ACC again and beating Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes who he believes will make it despite losing Cam Ward -- they are bringing in Carson Beck from Georgia to replace him.
I could see this as the title game and it's probably the most popular pick although SMU has gotten plenty of love this offseason. I'm not ready to completely count out Florida State and Mike Norvell, though. I know they were bad last year, but DJ Uiagalelei is gone and Thomas Castellanos has no shortage of confidence.
The ACC may be more competitive than people expect this year, but it's still Clemson's to lose.