"There are lots of ways to end a season disappointed. Expectations can play a role, of course, but they don't have to. Sometimes a first-year head coach gets off on the wrong foot, and sometimes a well-established coach loses his footing. Sometimes you start out the No. 1 team in the country, and three losses take you down. Sometimes you start out expecting 3-9 and still fall far short."
"But Clemson's systemwide collapse in 2025 remains baffling. Injuries certainly contributed to problems in the skill corps and on the offensive line, but quarterback Cade Klubnik was ineffective for most of the season, whether those around him were healthy or not. And the defense, despite returning plenty of NFL-level talent and playing against zero elite offenses all season, improved only from 29th to 24th in defensive SP+ under Tom Allen."
There are many ways for a season to end in disappointment, from unmet expectations to coaching missteps and unexpected losses. The 2025 College Football Playoff field is unusually fresh: three first-time semifinalists, two potential first-time national champions, and no recent champion in 24 years. Several teams that entered the season with high expectations fell short, including four preseason top-10 teams that finished with seven or fewer wins or rallied too late. Clemson experienced a systemwide collapse, hampered by injuries, an ineffective Cade Klubnik for much of the season, and a defense that improved only from 29th to 24th in defensive SP+ under Tom Allen.
Read at ESPN.com
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