Predicting Clemson football’s 2025 game results, from LSU to South Carolina
Everything’s on the table for Clemson football this season.
But with massive expectations, can coach Dabo Swinney’s program deliver the goods, make a long College Football Playoff run and legitimately contend for a national championship, like so many are projecting them to do?
Here are my game-by-game predictions for the 2025 season.
Aug. 30: vs. No. 9 LSU
Cade Klubnik vs. Garrett Nussmeier is going to be one heck of a quarterback battle. And Clemson has the playmakers, especially at receiver, to go up and down the field.
I’ve gone back and forth on this one, heavily weighing the fact Clemson’s lost three of its last four openers and is 3-7 in its last 10 games against the SEC. But Memorial Stadium is going to be madness on Saturday, and that’s worth an impact play or two — especially with Clemson’s pass rush going up against a retooled LSU offensive line.
Signature win, check.
>> Projected record to date: 1-0
Sept. 6: vs. Troy
Last year, App State was supposed to be a sneaky Week 2 opponent for a Clemson team coming off a Georgia loss. The Tigers scored 56 points in the first half and won 66-10. Not saying the Troy game will be that ugly, but the Trojans were 4-8 last year.
>> Projected record to date: 2-0
Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech
This game screams upset. It’s on the road, at noon and resembles the first road game and ACC game on Clemson’s 2025 schedule. Plus, the opponent is a regional rival with a veteran QB (Haynes King) and a coach (Brent Key) who has a knack for upsetting AP Top 25 teams.
Which is exactly why I’ll zag and say Clemson takes care of business.
>> Projected record to date: 3-0
Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse
Clemson fans will always love Fran Brown for helping them reach the playoffs last year by upsetting Miami. But the good vibes will end there for the Orange. Syracuse is a program on the rise under Brown but is replacing too much from last year’s 10-win squad to make a dent.
The Tigers win this one comfortably.
>> Projected record to date: 4-0
Oct. 4: at UNC
Clemson and Swinney meet Bill Belichick and UNC in a star coaching matchup which could draw “College GameDay” to Chapel Hill, if the Tar Heels can win their opener vs. TCU. But, once again, this is better storyline than actual matchup.
UNC’s 70-plus newcomers might provide a scare, but they won’t measure up to a deep Clemson team that will be approaching midseason form.
>> Projected record to date: 5-0
Oct. 11: at Boston College
Here’s your reminder that Clemson has won 12 in a row and 14 of 15 against Boston College, an old ACC Atlantic Division opponent it used to beat up on annually. The Eagles are one of those conference teams that usually lack the same pop as Clemson.
Expect that to be on display here.
>> Projected record to date: 6-0
Oct. 18: vs. No. 16 SMU
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings had Clemson on the verge of an all-time collapse in the 2024 ACC championship game. After entering the fourth quarter down 17 points, he led three straight scoring drives and threw a game-tying touchdown with 16 seconds remaining ... and still lost in regulation.
Clemson has lost at least one home game each of the last three seasons. With Jennings playing his best ball, SMU makes it four years in a row with a home loss — and forces the Tigers to take a long, hard look in the mirror.
>> Projected record to date: 6-1
Nov. 1: vs. Duke
Duke embarrassed Clemson in the Tigers’ 2023 season opener. Plenty of players are still around from that Labor Day night stunner in Durham, which kicked off a frustrating year for the Tigers (and their offense in particular).
Klubnik is a lot better since that loss, though. So are the personnel around him.
>> Projected record to date: 7-1
Nov. 8: vs. Florida State
It’s hard to find a program that better illustrates the fickle nature of the transfer portal than Florida State — 13-1 and ACC champions in 2023, 2-10 and 1-7 in the ACC in 2024. FSU’s 2025 team, led by promising transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos, probably falls somewhere in the middle.
On the road, that’s not enough against a refocused Clemson team.
>> Projected record to date: 8-1
Nov. 14: at Louisville
Louisville gashing Clemson for 7.8 yards per carry in Death Valley last year was one of the first signs Wes Goodwin’s days as defensive coordinator were numbered. That’ll give the Cardinals a lot of confidence, and rightfully so.
Plus, this game’s bound to get a little weird — it’s on a Friday.
Louisville takes an early lead in Clemson’s ACC finale. But a signature game from Klubnik brings the Tigers back from behind — and into the conference title game.
>> Projected record to date: 9-1
Nov. 22: vs. Furman
Clemson is 39-0 against FCS teams since 1978. Carry on. Side note: If you want to see former hoops star Ian Schieffelin catch a touchdown pass, this might be your day.
>> Projected record to date: 10-1
Nov. 29: at No. 13 South Carolina
The 12-team playoff was good to the Clemson-South Carolina series last year, adding some postseason implications to what was already an epic rivalry. Given what the Gamecocks put on paper last year, expect similar stakes in Columbia in 2025.
Last season, USC quarterback LaNorris Sellers ran for 171 yards, forced 18 missed tackles and essentially beat Clemson by himself. Sellers is the difference, once again, as the Gamecocks get their first home win against Clemson since 2013 and Swinney drops to 2-3 in head-to-head meetings with Shane Beamer.
>> Projected record to date: 10-2
After an excellent start, Clemson ends the regular season on a downer. The Tigers are good, but not good enough to beat both of the SEC schools on their schedule.
But that’s only the start. With a 7-1 ACC record, Clemson marches into the ACC title game and can clinch an automatic bid to the CFP with a win. Given that Swinney’s 9-1 in ACC championship games and has won eight in a row, that’s a safe bet.
Then it’s on to the 12-team playoff with a clean slate.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
