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'Dabo wins his third': Joel Klatt lays out Clemson's path to a national title

ox Sports' lead analyst Joel Klatt has made his official pick, predicting Clemson will win the national championship.
ByZach Lentz|
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates in front of the College Football National Championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Alabama 44-16 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Monday, Jan. 7. BART BOATWRIGHT/greenville news Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates in front of the College Football National Championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Alabama 44-16 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA Monday, January 7, 2019. Clemson Alabama College Football National Championship
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates in front of the College Football National Championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Alabama 44-16 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Monday, Jan. 7. BART BOATWRIGHT/greenville news Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates in front of the College Football National Championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Alabama 44-16 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA Monday, January 7, 2019. Clemson Alabama College Football National Championship | BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Add one of college football's most prominent voices to the list of believers.

Fox Sports' lead analyst Joel Klatt has officially planted his flag, predicting the Clemson Tigers will navigate a treacherous playoff path to defeat Ohio State and win the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.

"My national champion, the official pick, the Clemson Tigers win the national championship in college football," Klatt declared on his show Tuesday.

A Gauntlet of Giants

In his full 12-team playoff bracket, Klatt projects a challenging but ultimately triumphant journey for the Tigers:

  • ACC Champions: Klatt first picks Clemson to defeat Miami in the ACC Championship game.
  • No. 3 Seed: The win earns the Tigers a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed in the playoff.
  • Quarterfinal: Clemson defeats No. 6 seed Oregon.
  • Semifinal: In a blockbuster matchup, Klatt has Clemson avenging last year's playoff loss by beating No. 2 seed Texas. "Manning against Klubnik, I’m gonna go with the more experienced quarterback here," Klatt reasoned. "I think Dabo and Klubnik and that defense and just their overall soundness get the job done.”
  • National Championship: Clemson faces No. 4 seed Ohio State and prevents the Buckeyes from winning back-to-back titles.

Putting Dabo in Saban's Company

For Klatt, a third title for Dabo Swinney would be more than just another trophy; it would be a legacy-defining achievement, proving his program's enduring power across different eras of college football.

"I think Dabo wins his third national championship, proves that there’s still a way to win in this era where everyone has been all over him about not adjusting," Klatt said. "Which means Dabo Swinney would join Nick Saban as one of the only coaches to win national championships over different cycles of recruits. That’s very difficult to do."

Klatt's confidence is rooted in what he sees as a complete roster.

"You’ve got a team in Clemson that I’ve got three players in my top 10 players overall," he stated. "They’ve got a coach that’s done it before. They’ve got experience at quarterback. They’ve got a defense that could be one of the better, if not the best in college football."

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