Gamecocks, Clemson rank high in ‘way too early’ college football polls for 2025 season
National writers already have high hopes for Clemson and South Carolina football in the 2025 season.
Both Palmetto State schools are ranked in the Top 25 as ESPN, The Athletic and CBS Sports released their “way too early” polls following Monday’s national championship game.
The Tigers are ranked No. 7, in ESPN’s rankings, while the Gamecocks are at No. 10. Clemson is No. 5 in The Athletic’s poll, with USC slotted at No. 16. CBS has Clemson at No. 8 and USC at No. 11.
ESPN has defending champion Ohio State at No. 1. The Athletic ranks Penn State at the top. CBS has Texas at No. 1.
Other national “way too early” polls also have the two teams ranked including:
▪ Sporting News: Clemson (No. 7), South Carolina (No. 14).
▪ Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: Clemson (No. 8), South Carolina (No. 13)
▪ Athlon Sports: Clemson (No. 7), South Carolina (No. 12)
▪ 247Sports: Clemson (No. 6), South Carolina (No. 11)
▪ Sports Illustrated: Clemson (No. 6), South Carolina (No. 14)
Clemson is coming off a 10-4 season in which it defeated SMU in the ACC Championship and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff for the seventh time. The Tigers have QB Cade Klubnik back along with defensive lineman Peter Woods, among others.
Dabo Swinney also parted ways with defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin and replaced him with Penn State’s Tom Allen. Clemson also signed three players out of the transfer portal for the first time.
“They’ll undoubtedly be the team to beat in the league in 2025, with Klubnik, Williams, Woodaz, Parker, Woods and Miller all electing to return for another season,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote of the Tigers.
The Gamecocks have plenty of momentum coming into next season after a 9-4 campaign that ended in a bowl game loss to Illinois. USC started off 3-3 before a six-game winning streak to end the regular season.
Shane Beamer has QB LaNorris Sellers back after a breakout season last year and has been very active in the transfer portal, with additions including tailback Rahsul Faison and several players on the defensive side of the ball.
Mike Shula will take over at offensive coordinator after Dowell Loggains left to become head coach at App State.
“The Gamecocks were in the CFP discussion at the end of the season thanks to the progress of quarterback LaNorris Sellers,” CBS Sports Dennis Dodd wrote of the Gamecocks. “The schedule is brutal with games at Missouri, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Alabama and Clemson come to Columbia. With a high enough preseason ranking, a three-loss season might be enough to get the Gamecocks in this time.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM.
