The natty vibes might have just faded—January saw Ohio State lift the trophy, and December crowned Travis Hunter with the Heisman—but the new season is already whispering promises of fresh faces and fierce competition. It’s way too early to crown the top five college football programs for 2025, but that’s not stopping David Pollack from laying down some bold predictions. And one program has his undivided attention: the one led by a $115 million head coach. Big money, big expectations. Pollack is betting big on this team to roar back to the top.

On his David Pollack College Football Show, the former ESPN analyst revealed his ‘never-too-early’ top five for 2025. And his No. 4 pick? Clemson. Pollack’s reasoning is airtight.

First, Clemson has a proven leader in Cade Klubnik. The rising senior quarterback has shown enough flashes of brilliance to suggest he’ll be in the Heisman conversation next year. Second, head coach Dabo Swinney—who locked in a massive 10-year, $115 million contract that keeps him in charge through 2031—made a rare move. He reached outside his usual circle and brought in Tom Allen from Penn State to overhaul the defense. And third, Swinney is finally embracing the transfer portal—a strategic shift that could be a game-changer. With all these factors lining up, Clemson has the pieces. Now, it’s about putting them together.

Pollack’s breakdown makes it clear: Clemson is back in business!

Pollack said, “Clemson [No.] 4. I saw enough from Klubnik to say he’s gonna be in the Heisman Trophy discussion next year. Like his top three receivers are back. Their offensive line was not elite, was not great by any stretch. And here’s the thing: Dabo Swinney is a guy that has always stuck to his guns. What does that mean? No transfer portal. Already addressing that, which I think is big. Needs to do that.”

That’s not the only shift happening in Death Valley. Swinney has always been known for promoting from within. But this time, he went out and got his defensive coordinator. Enter Tom Allen, the former Penn State coach, who fits Swinney’s culture like a glove but also brings serious defensive expertise.

He added, “Another thing Dabo Swinney has always done—hire from within, his guys. He just went and got his defensive coordinator. He went to Penn State to get Tom Allen, who is a great fit for the culture. Like, that dude, he is so aligned with Dabo, but he’s great with Xs and Os. They gave up way too much in the run game, they made it way too easy on opponent.”

Stack all of that together, and Pollack sees Clemson reasserting its dominance. Coming off their eighth conference title in 10 seasons, the Tigers are primed to be the ACC’s top dog once again in 2025. “I think Clemson immediately jumps back in the fray. They’re in the mix in the ACC. I think they’ll be the best team with all those things going for them,” said Pollack.

But if Clemson is sitting at No. 4, who’s on top? Is Ohio State the undisputed No. 1? The Buckeyes have been stockpiling elite talent, making their case for the top spot. And what about No. 2 and No. 3? With powerhouse programs reloading and gearing up for another epic battle, the race for 2025’s top team is already heating up

David Pollack’s top 5 prediction

Pollack locked Clemson, just ahead of Penn State at No. 5. Oregon grabs No. 3, while the reigning champs, Ohio State, settle for No. 2. But sitting at the top? Texas. The Longhorns, who bounced Clemson 38-24 in last year’s CFP first round, enter 2025 as Pollack’s No. 1 team. But hold on—why isn’t Ohio State on top? They just won the first-ever 12-team CFP title with a roster stacked like an NFL pipeline. Let’s break it down.

“Ohio State is losing some dudes. Guys that have been there for a long time,” Pollack said. And he’s not wrong. The Buckeyes are heading into 2025 with a brand-new look. Both coordinators are gone. Key starters are off to the NFL, including QB Will Howard, RBs, and the program’s all-time receiving leader, Emeka Egbuka. The defensive line? Wiped out. Sack machines JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer are also moving on.

But don’t count out the Buckeyes just yet. They’re bringing back two absolute game-changers—All-American safety Caleb Downs and WR Jeremiah Smith. The talent pipeline never stops in Columbus. Then, why is Texas the top choice?

According to Pollack, Texas is king heading into 2025. And the reason? Arch Manning. The former five-star takes over Steve Sarkisian’s high-powered offense, ready to make his mark. Sure, the Longhorns are losing some key pieces after their playoff semifinal run, but the future looks golden with Manning at the helm.

“Texas, they still got the oil money. That didn’t go nowhere,” Pollack joked. And with that kind of backing, the Longhorns are built to reload, not rebuild. Well, so far, Texas, Oregon, Ohio State—those make sense. But Clemson?