Revenge on the biggest stage. That's what the analytics powerhouse Pro Football Focus is forecasting for the Clemson Tigers this season.
In its official College Football Playoff prediction released Friday, PFF has Clemson completing the ultimate revenge tour by defeating the Texas Longhorns—the very team that eliminated them from last year's playoff—to win the 2025 National Championship.
The Perfect Storm for a Title Run
According to PFF's analysis, everything is aligning for Dabo Swinney's program to return to the top of the sport. While seven of last year's 12 playoff teams are breaking in new starting quarterbacks, the Tigers boast stability and elite talent at the most important position on the field.
PFF views Clemson's senior signal-caller, Cade Klubnik, as the "best returning quarterback in college football."
"The top quarterback recruit in the 2022 class is finally starting to live up to the hype and has the potential to take a loaded Clemson roster to the promised land as a senior,” PFF wrote of Klubnik, who ranked among the nation's leaders in passing touchdowns (36) and "big-time throws" (28) last season.
Loaded on Both Sides of the Ball
PFF's confidence isn't just in the quarterback. They point to a complete, veteran roster loaded with future NFL draft picks.
- Offensive Line: Klubnik will be protected by a dominant unit that returns four graduate linemen with a combined 120 career starts, anchored by projected first-round pick Blake Miller.
- Defensive Line: The front is led by two projected top-ten picks in defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher T.J. Parker.
- Back Seven: The defense also features last year's ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in linebacker Sammy Brown and projected top-15 pick Avieon Terrell at cornerback.
With a star quarterback, a veteran roster, and a chaotic national landscape, PFF believes all the ingredients are in place for Clemson to return to its "glory days" and exact the perfect revenge.