Clemson made the top 25 of ESPN’s way-too-early rankings for the 2023 season.

ESPN college football writer Mark Schlabach placed Clemson as the No. 15 team heading into the 2023 season. In 2022, Clemson closed out the season with a 31-14 loss to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30. The loss closed the door on a successful 2022 season for the Tigers. This was Clemson’s return to a New Year’s Six bowl game after missing out in the 2021 season.

For the 2023 season, Clemson will be moving forward with Cade Klubnik as the program’s starting quarterback after DJ Uiagalelei transferred in December. Schlabach focused on Clemson’s future:

“Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal after he was benched and transferred to Oregon State. The Cade Klubnik era started during the loss to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. Four starting offensive linemen are expected back, and receiver Antonio Williams played well as a freshman. There are some solid pieces around Klubnik. The Tigers play nonconference games against Notre Dame (home) and South Carolina (road) in 2023.”

Clemson extended head coach Dabo Swinney’s double-digit winning streak to 12 consecutive seasons in 2022. Clemson will be looking to return to the College Football Playoff for the 1st time since the 2020 season.

Clemson ended 2022 with an 11-3 record.