Greg McElroy Believes Clemson Has All the Makings of a National Championship Contender and Explains Why the Tigers Are Dangerous
Greg McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback turned respected ESPN college football analyst, has never shied away from offering honest assessments of top-tier programs. And when it comes to the Clemson Tigers, McElroy’s latest evaluation has stirred up excitement in Death Valley. During a recent episode of “Always College Football,” McElroy laid out why he believes Clemson possesses all the ingredients to return to the pinnacle of the sport and compete for a national championship in the upcoming season. It’s a bold assertion, especially given the Tigers’ relative absence from the College Football Playoff in recent years, but McElroy sees something brewing in Clemson that others might be missing.
The Tigers, under the leadership of head coach Dabo Swinney, have endured a transition period since their last Playoff appearance. The 2020 season marked the final bow of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and the post-Lawrence era brought both questions and growing pains. Since then, the Tigers have remained a fixture in the national conversation, but have fallen just short of the elite standard Swinney had established in the previous decade. However, in McElroy’s eyes, 2025 could mark the end of Clemson’s rebuild and the start of another dominant run.
One of the key reasons McElroy is so high on Clemson is the returning talent on both sides of the ball. The Tigers boast a core of experienced players, many of whom were forged in the fire of close losses and hard-fought battles over the past two seasons. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, entering his third year in the program, is expected to take a significant leap under the guidance of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. McElroy emphasized that Klubnik has shown flashes of elite ability and now has the benefit of stability in the coaching ranks and continuity with his supporting cast.
Riley, who was hired away from TCU ahead of the 2023 season, brought a modernized offensive approach that took time to take root in Clemson’s system. Last year’s offense displayed signs of growth, and McElroy believes this will be the season Riley’s philosophy truly takes hold. He pointed to the speed and athleticism at the wide receiver and running back positions as evidence that Clemson can create explosive plays again—a trademark that was often missing in the wake of Lawrence’s departure.
The return of running back Phil Mafah is another factor McElroy believes will elevate Clemson’s offense. Mafah’s bruising running style and surprising top-end speed make him a true workhorse in the backfield. With Will Shipley off to the NFL, Mafah now has a chance to shine as the feature back. McElroy noted that Mafah’s presence in the backfield offers Klubnik a reliable safety valve and helps the Tigers control tempo in games, something that will be critical as they navigate a demanding ACC schedule.
On the defensive side, Clemson has long been a stronghold of elite talent, and that trend hasn’t changed. Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s unit is stacked with high-end prospects and experienced veterans. McElroy singled out linebacker Barrett Carter and defensive tackle Peter Woods as potential All-American candidates. Woods, in particular, is drawing comparisons to past Clemson greats on the defensive line. As a sophomore, he is expected to make a significant leap, and McElroy believes he could be one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the country.
Depth across the defensive front is another strength that has McElroy bullish on the Tigers. In a college football landscape increasingly defined by pace and space, being able to rotate fresh bodies on the defensive line is a necessity. Clemson’s ability to generate pressure without blitzing gives them flexibility in coverage and helps to neutralize even the most dynamic offenses. McElroy praised the Tigers’ ability to recruit and develop defensive linemen as a key reason he believes they can compete with the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and Michigan.
Perhaps most importantly, McElroy noted that Clemson is flying somewhat under the radar. Unlike in years past, the Tigers are not entering the season as a consensus top-four team. That lack of external pressure could benefit a roster that is hungry to reestablish itself. McElroy observed that the best teams are often those that have something to prove, and after being overlooked in preseason polls for the past two seasons, this Clemson group is poised to make a statement.
It’s also impossible to discuss Clemson’s national title hopes without addressing Dabo Swinney’s leadership. While Swinney has received criticism in recent years for his reluctance to embrace the transfer portal and NIL culture, McElroy defended the veteran coach’s approach. He noted that Swinney has remained true to his program’s values, and while that has made roster management more challenging in the modern era, it has also fostered a strong team culture. Players who come to Clemson know what is expected of them, and McElroy believes that stability could pay dividends in a college football environment increasingly marked by volatility.
Another underrated aspect of Clemson’s profile is the team’s schedule. While the Tigers have tough matchups against Florida State, NC State, and South Carolina, McElroy believes the overall path to the Playoff is manageable. He stressed that if Clemson can survive its early slate and get to November with one loss or fewer, the committee will take notice—especially if they can capture the ACC title in convincing fashion. Unlike the SEC or Big Ten, where teams can get into the Playoff with multiple losses due to strength of schedule, ACC teams must make the most of every opportunity. McElroy believes the Tigers are capable of doing just that.
He also expressed confidence in the intangibles Clemson brings to the table. Championship teams often share common traits—resilience, leadership, and belief. According to McElroy, this Clemson roster is filled with players who have stayed the course through adversity, who are battle-tested and ready for the spotlight. He mentioned senior safety Andrew Mukuba and offensive lineman Walker Parks as vocal leaders who have helped hold the locker room together and build a sense of unity that is rare in today’s transient college football world.
Still, McElroy acknowledged that the Tigers must prove themselves on the field. There are no guaranteed victories, especially with Florida State resurgent and North Carolina continuing to be a threat under Mack Brown. But the key difference this year, McElroy argued, is that Clemson is no longer weighed down by unrealistic expectations. Instead, the program is quietly building momentum, and that may be the most dangerous version of Clemson—a focused, motivated team with elite talent and something to prove.
In summarizing his thoughts, McElroy offered a message that should resonate with both Clemson fans and college football watchers nationwide: don’t be surprised if the Tigers are in the Playoff conversation deep into November. He pointed to parallels between this team and the 2015 squad that shocked the country by reaching the national championship game. That team, led by Deshaun Watson, wasn’t picked by many to make it that far, but talent, coaching, and belief carried them through. McElroy believes this current team shares a similar DNA.
In the world of college football, it’s easy to fixate on what’s trendy—new coaching hires, flashy transfer additions, or NIL juggernauts. But McElroy’s analysis reminds us that some programs don’t need to chase the latest fad. Some simply need time to reload, to allow their culture to foster growth and for their young stars to blossom. Clemson may not be the preseason favorite, but they have everything a team needs to win it all—talent, leadership, coaching, depth, and an edge forged by recent setbacks.
Greg McElroy has seen national champions up close, both as a player and a broadcaster. His belief in Clemson as a title contender isn’t rooted in nostalgia or hype. It’s based on what he sees on the tape, in the locker room, and on the sidelines. The Tigers, he says, are coming—and when Clemson comes, the rest of college football takes notice.
