In a few short weeks, we will have the AP Top 25 Poll to sink our teeth into. While Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers have been a regular fixture inside the top 25 for well over a decade now, last year's team went 7-6... At the start of the year a season ago, Clemson was seen as a top-five team in 2025. It just never came together for them. That being said, where could the Tigers find themselves ranked?
With the AP Top 25 Poll coming out in only a few short weeks, here is what the first one may look like.
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Texas Longhorns
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Miami Hurricanes
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- LSU Tigers
- USC Trojans
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- BYU Cougars
- Michigan Wolverines
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Washington Huskies
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Utah Utes
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- SMU Mustangs
- Clemson Tigers
- Louisville Cardinals
- Arizona Wildcats
Again, this is only a prediction. Clemson coming in at No. 23 feels like we are taking the middle of their high-end and low-end projectability. In a best-scenario, maybe they are as high at No. 17? In a worst-case scenario, the Tigers may be one of the first teams receiving votes who did not crack the top 25. The interesting part is how close second place is in the ACC between Clemson, Louisville, and SMU.
The good news for Clemson is they will not be playing either Louisville or SMU this season. If this is what the AP Top 25 Poll ends up looking like, the only ranked teams Clemson has on the docket are at "No. 12" LSU to kick off Week 1, and home vs. "No. 7" Miami in early October. South Carolina could be ranked at season's end if the Gamecocks were to bounce back from an awful campaign a season ago.
Assuming Clemson holds up its end of the bargain, who ranked ahead of them could fall off quickly?
Clemson could skyrocket up AP Top 25 with an upset road win over LSU
For the sake of argument, let's assume Clemson pulls off the impressive road upset of LSU in Baton Rouge. If Clemson wins that game, the Tigers will shoot up into the teens rather easily. Conversely, a loss to the Bayou Bengals would knock them out of the top 25 entirely. Outside of LSU, there are a few teams "ranked" ahead of Clemson who could drop off pretty quickly all across the Power Four.
To be frank, once you get past Texas A&M at "No. 8", it would not be shocking to see anyone else stumble. Ole Miss has a new head coach. Oklahoma struggled on offense a year ago. Texas Tech does not have Brendan Sorsby. Lane Kiffin is calling the shots at LSU. Lincoln Riley can never be trusted at USC. Kalen DeBoer may be over his skis at Alabama. Those are the teams "No. 9 to No. 14".
Once we get past Alabama and into the next tier of College Football Playoff contenders, how much do you trust BYU? How much of an impact will Kyle Whittingham have in year one at Michigan? What about Matt Campbell at Penn State? There is so much unknown with this next grouping of teams where Clemson could shoot past many of them if the Tigers catch fire right away with a big LSU win.
Overall, we could be living in a world where Clemson is ranked as high as No. 12 after an LSU win and an ACC opener victory over North Carolina, with a Georgia Southern win sprinkled in between. That would be a fairly compelling 3-0, especially if LSU bounces back and gets a few early pelts on the wall, too. It might have to include beating Ole Miss in Oxford in Kiffin's return to Vaught-Hemingway.
Ultimately, just be prepared to see Clemson ranked in and around the 20s in a few weeks. It makes sense for Clemson to be in the same cluster of teams with Louisville and SMU out of the ACC. Along with Miami, these are the four ACC schools that should start the year out ranked. We do live in a world with so much Big Ten and SEC bias, so do not be shocked if Auburn, Illinois, or South Carolina make it.
Regardless, Clemson needs to get off to a hot start to allow any of this playoff discussion to manifest.
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