Clemson heads into the 2025 school soccer season able to competing for the nationwide championship with a veteran roster and a possible Heisman Trophy contender in quarterback Cade Klubnik. The Tigers have not reached the School Soccer Playoff championship sport in 5 years after 4 journeys — and two titles — from 2015 to 2019. Coach Dabo Swinney is set to revive Clemson’s championship pedigree. Professional Austin Hannon of Clemson247 joined Bud Elliott on the Cowl 3 School Soccer Summer season Faculty sequence to preview expectations for the Tigers this fall.
What are the stakes for Clemson in 2025?
The stakes could not be increased for Clemson. Eyes are firmly set on a tenth ACC title below Swinney and a much-improved seed within the CFP after barely sneaking in because the final group within the inaugural 12-team bracket final 12 months. With a veteran core returning, expectations are sky-high — and something lower than a deep postseason run can be a disappointment.
“I believe getting again there, attending to the ultimate 4 would in all probability be the expectation, something previous that I believe the followers can be proud of,” Hannon mentioned. “However I believe making the playoff and shedding to an SEC group within the first spherical, I do not suppose that that might be a win based mostly on what they’ve coming again.”
Clemson boasts the second-most returning starters amongst Energy 4 groups (and Notre Dame), with a balanced roster that includes eight returnees on each offense and protection. Klubnik brings again his high three receivers — Bryant Wesco Jr., T.J. Moore and Antonio Williams — after a career-best 2024 marketing campaign with the third-most passing touchdowns nationally (36) and solely six interceptions on 486 makes an attempt, rating fourth within the FBS.
Klubnik might have the expertise and expertise to change into the primary Heisman winner in Clemson historical past.
Breakout participant everyone must know
Simply because it does on offense, Clemson boasts expertise on protection, however there are key areas the place youthful gamers might want to step up — significantly at cornerback reverse second-team All-ACC honoree Avieon Terrell. Sophomore Ashton Hampton, who made 4 begins and appeared in all 14 video games as a real freshman, is the highest candidate to fill that function.
“I actually like Ashton Hampton as one other cornerback,” Hannon mentioned. “Huge, prolonged, bodily man that performed lots down the stretch final season. Had that one-handed interception in Blacksburg that sealed the sport (in opposition to Virginia Tech).”
That highlight-reel choose was certainly one of two interceptions Hampton recorded in 2024. The opposite? A 58-yard pick-6 in Clemson’s Week 4 win over NC State.
Win complete outlook
The projected win complete of Clemson is 9.5 with juice on the over, in response to FanDuel Sportsbook. That seems to be a well-positioned bar with the Tigers having hit not less than 9 regular-season wins in 12 of the final 13 years. However with a high-stakes opener in opposition to LSU in Clemson, the vibes popping out of Week 1 shall be essential in setting the tone.
“Something under 11-1 for Clemson appears like a disappointment,” Hannon mentioned.
The Tigers stay a transparent step above the remaining within the ACC, getting into the season with the perfect odds (+105) to win the convention crown. Nonetheless, a pair of difficult street video games at Georgia Tech and Louisville loom giant, as does a rematch of final 12 months’s ACC title sport in opposition to SMU. After which there’s the heated season finale at South Carolina — a rivalry that all the time appears to hold additional weight, regardless of the data.
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