ESPN experts see Clemson as playoff lock, but title hopes spark fierce debate

Fansided | August 22, 2025

A panel of 12 ESPN experts all have Clemson in the College Football Playoff, but their predictions are all over the map.

Oct 1, 2022; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson cheerleaders perform during ESPN College GameDay on Bowman Field at Clemson University before the game against the NC State Wolfpack at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images | Anderson Independent Mail-Imagn Images

The consensus at ESPN is in: the Clemson Tigers are a College Football Playoff team. But that's where the agreement abruptly ends.

In a final preseason panel featuring 12 of the network's top college football analysts, every single expert has Dabo Swinney's squad in the 12-team field.