This ESPN analyst is very high on the Clemson football program’s 2025 outlook.

In fact, ESPN’s Greg McElroy believes the Tigers should be viewed as the nation’s No. 1 team heading into next season.

“They probably should be,” McElroy said on McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning. “People won’t put them there, but they probably should be.”

After winning the ACC Championship and earning a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, Clemson (10-4, 8-1 ACC in 2024) is in the top 10 of a lot of way-too-early rankings for the 2025 college football campaign.

However, while Dabo Swinney’s team is getting plenty of early love for 2025, not many people are looking at Clemson as the top team in the country entering next season.

But McElroy is one who does see it that way, considering the Tigers’ valiant effort in their College Football Playoff first-round loss at eventual CFP semifinalist Texas, and who all Clemson has coming back for next season.

“Honestly, Clemson should be No. 1,” McElroy said. “Based on returning production, they should be No. 1. You know me, guys. We are not Clemson homers on this show by any stretch, but let’s call it – based on what we know. You have a team that made the playoff last year, that actually played quite well against Texas. Got off to a really bad start, but rounded into shape.”

On the other hand, one team that McElroy isn’t ready to simply put at No. 1 going into next season is Ohio State, despite the Buckeyes winning the 2024 CFP National Championship.

“I’m not sure that it’s clear,” McElroy said. “I just know that what Ohio State lost, looking at them specifically, I have a very hard time putting them at No. 1. Very hard time. That was a little bit of a special group. I think we’re a little bit of a prisoner of the moment right now by having them at No. 1. I am not, at this point, feeling as convinced that they should start next year at the top of the list.”