The Clemson Tigers wrapped up their regular season with a statement win, taking down in-state rival South Carolina 28-14 on Saturday. It was a fitting exclamation point to a roller-coaster year that saw Clemson bounce back from its worst start since 1998 to finish 7-5. After a 4-5 start that had fans and analysts alike wondering what went wrong, the Tigers ripped off four straight wins to close the year - and now they’re heading into bowl season with real momentum for the first time all year.
With the regular season in the books, the bowl projections are flying in, and a few potential destinations are starting to take shape. ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura is sticking with a familiar pick: Clemson in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, facing off against Army on Dec.
- That’s the same matchup he projected two weeks ago following Clemson’s upset win over Louisville, and it still holds water after the Tigers’ strong finish.
Army, like Clemson, had a rocky start to the 2025 season, dropping three of its first four games. But the Black Knights showed flashes of what they could be - most notably with an upset win over Kansas State.
Since that early stumble, they’ve gone 5-2, with both losses coming in tight, one-score games against Tulane and Tulsa. At 6-5 and sitting sixth in the American Athletic Conference, Army still has one game left - the annual showdown with Navy on Dec. 13 - but they’ve already done enough to earn a postseason nod.
If this matchup does come to fruition, Army could have a subtle edge in logistics. With West Point just a few hours from Boston, the Black Knights would be playing in familiar territory.
Clemson, on the other hand, would be making the long haul north. That said, the Tigers would get extra time to prepare thanks to Army’s late-season game, which could be a factor in game planning.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach is projecting a different destination for Clemson: the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. This time, Schlabach has the Tigers squaring off against Arizona State - a team that, like Clemson, came into the year with big expectations but had to navigate a turbulent season.
Arizona State entered 2025 riding high after its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance and returned starting quarterback Sam Leavitt. Ranked No. 11 in the country to start the year, the Sun Devils stumbled early, falling out of the AP Poll after a narrow Week 2 loss to Mississippi State.
They clawed their way back into the rankings with a four-game win streak that included a victory over No. 24 TCU, but consistency proved elusive.
Leavitt’s foot injury sidelined him for a Week 7 blowout loss to Utah, and although he returned to lead a gutsy upset over No. 7 Texas Tech, the injury lingered. He re-aggravated it in a loss to Houston and was ultimately ruled out for the season, needing surgery.
That’s when sixth-year quarterback Jeff Sims stepped in - and he’s been a revelation. Sims has accounted for over 1,000 all-purpose yards and nine total touchdowns since taking over, leading the Sun Devils to a 3-1 finish down the stretch. Arizona State now enters bowl season ranked No. 20, looking like a team that’s found its identity late in the year.
There’s also a third possibility on the table. CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford has Clemson heading to Tampa for the Gasparilla Bowl, where they’d face South Florida.
The Bulls have been one of the season’s quieter success stories, climbing as high as No. 18 in the AP Poll and finishing with a 9-3 record. But they’ll enter the postseason without head coach Alex Golesh, who accepted the Auburn job, leaving the Bulls to navigate bowl prep with an interim staff.
So where does that leave Clemson? Three very different potential matchups - each with its own storyline.
A clash with Army in Boston would pit two teams that found their rhythm late in the year. A Sun Bowl showdown with Arizona State would feature a pair of programs that had to pivot midseason and found unexpected leaders.
And a Gasparilla Bowl date with South Florida would be a battle against one of the year’s most quietly effective teams, albeit now without its head coach.
No matter where the Tigers land, one thing is clear: this team has turned a corner. After a rocky start, Clemson is surging into bowl season with confidence, cohesion, and a defense that’s been playing lights-out. Whether it’s Boston, El Paso, or Tampa, the Tigers are back in stride - and looking to end the year with a statement.