CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Freshman Tait Reynolds replaced an injured Christopher Vizzina at quarterback and threw for 178 yards and led five scoring drives as Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 22-7 on Saturday night following a two-hour lightning delay.
T.J. Moore had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and Nolan Hauser was 5 for 5 on field goal attempts for Clemson (1-1), which rebounded from a 51-10 thrashing at the hands of No. 11 LSU last week.
That loss, combined with a seventh place finish in the ACC last year, left fans and former players frustrated with the Tigers' sharp falloff under longtime head coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson's win likely did little to inspire much confidence in new coordinator Chad Morris' offense.
The Tigers (1-1), who were outgained by nearly 500 yards by LSU, finished with 345 yards but were 2 of 13 on third down conversions and managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone against the Sun Belt Conference foe.
Max Johnson, a North Carolina transfer, finished 27-of-47 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Southern (1-1).

#last

The Texas Longhorns have on heck of an opportunity to send a message to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the rest of college football that yes, they are for real and that Steve Sarkisian is ready to author a breakthrough season.
Can they get it done against the top-ranked Buckeyes? Will Texas A&M be tested by Arizona State? Is Dabo Swinney done in Clemson?
Columnists Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls delve into these and college football's other hot-button topics in this week's Take Ten segment.
BOHLS: It's as close to a must-win as you can get after losing the two matchups the last two seasons. A loss would greatly reduce the Longhorns' margin for error and also continue to paint Texas as a program that can't get over the hump. It would also greatly diminish the reputations of Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning. However, the reverse should be true. Texas will make the two biggest plays of the game and hang on for a 27-24 win over the Buckeyes.
GOLDEN: The Horns don't want any part of being 1-1 with games remaining against six other ranked opponents. It's imperative they get off to a great start, and that means scoring a first quarter touchdown, something they haven't done in their last five games against Ohio State and the thorn disguised as the Georgia Bulldogs. They're 0-5 in those games, by the way. Now, if the offensive line holds up, Sarkisian gets his signature win. Give me the Horns, 34-30.

#state #sarkisian #longhorns

There are now many signs pointing to Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase being full-go for the team's season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That's a good starting point for the latest Bengals player to indicate his only goals for the 2026 season are to win the Super Bowl.
Speaking during a Sept. 10 news conference at Paycor Stadium, Chase said he felt good and has taken on his normal workload in practice. Chase injured his knee during an Aug. 25 training camp practice when he collided with cornerback DJ Turner II.
The missed practices for Chase that followed the collision were precautionary, he said. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said he anticipated both Chase and receiver Tee Higgins would be available for the Sept. 13 home opener, and Chase was listed in the Sept. 9-10 injury reports as a full participant in practice.
More: Dexter Lawrence may be Bengals' missing piece. Dabo Swinney, Daniel Jones, others reveal why
With health seemingly no longer threatening his ability to begin the season on time, Chase is set to begin his sixth NFL season with Super Bowl aspirations, but no personal or statistical aims he felt were worth mentioning during his Sept. 10 news conference.

#bengals #cincinnati #receiver

There are now many signs pointing to Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase being full-go for the team's season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That's a good starting point for the latest Bengals player to indicate his only goals for the 2026 season are to win the Super Bowl.
Speaking during a Sept. 10 news conference at Paycor Stadium, Chase said he felt good and has taken on his normal workload in practice. Chase injured his knee during an Aug. 25 training camp practice when he collided with cornerback DJ Turner II.
The missed practices for Chase that followed the collision were precautionary, he said. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said he anticipated both Chase and receiver Tee Higgins would be available for the Sept. 13 home opener, and Chase was listed in the Sept. 9-10 injury reports as a full participant in practice.
More: Dexter Lawrence may be Bengals' missing piece. Dabo Swinney, Daniel Jones, others reveal why
With health seemingly no longer threatening his ability to begin the season on time, Chase is set to begin his sixth NFL season with Super Bowl aspirations, but no personal or statistical aims he felt were worth mentioning during his Sept. 10 news conference.

#chase

The first full week of the 2026 college football season just concluded, and over the course of several days, the ACC made its presence felt on the national stage.
No. 7 Miami, the reigning national runner-up and the conference's preseason favorite, demolished Stanford 45-6, behind five touchdown passes from Darian Mensah and three touchdown receptions from Malachi Toney. No. 20 SMU overcame a late start — literally — to outlast Florida State, 27-24.
Louisville lost to No. 10 Mississippi, 41-38, on a 48-yard field goal as time expired, but watched as first-year starting quarterback Lincoln Kienholz racked up 376 total yards and three touchdowns.
REQUIRED READING: Dabo Swinney says Clemson football will have 'great season' after career-worst loss to LSU
Pitt earned a commanding 59-14 win over a Miami (Ohio) team expected to contend for the MAC championship, thanks to an ACC-record seven touchdown passes from budding sophomore superstar Mason Heintschel. Virginia Tech drubbed VMI, 73-3, in James Franklin's debut as the Hokies' head coach.

#first #three

College football is unpredictable and delightful, which is why we live for what happens on Saturdays. And Week 1 absolutely delivered, from an extremely controversial last-second Hail Mary in Ann Arbor to a stunning beatdown in Baton Rouge and everything in between.

Each Sunday, I'll publish my biggest takeaways from the college football weekend. I'll highlight the most interesting storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders and specifically shout out individual and team performances that deserve the spotlight.
Michigan didn't deserve to win on Saturday. It got outplayed and out-physicaled from the start by Western Michigan — and needing that second put back on the clock to throw a second (and, this time, successful) Hail Mary to eke out the win over the Broncos. I don't think I've seen any Michigan fan genuinely happy about that outcome or the state of the Wolverine offense under Bryce Underwood right now.
Western Michigan feels like it got screwed out of what would have been the biggest win in program history. And for general college football fans, there's now less trust in the officiating and replay processes than there was a week ago. There were truly no winners in Ann Arbor on Saturday night.
A few weeks ago, I made a bold prediction that this would be Dabo Swinney's last season at Clemson. I didn't say whether the school would push him out or he'd be the one to leave because of how frustrated the fan and donor base has become. For the record, I do think it would be extremely difficult for the school to fire a coach who won two national championships and turned little ol' Clemson into a college football power.
Clemson didn't look like it belonged on the same field as LSU on Saturday night, let alone the same category of serious CFP contender. The Tigers, at one point in the third quarter, had a total of -10 rushing yards. It was astonishing to see how far the mighty Clemson program has fallen in less than a decade, and it makes my bold prediction seem far less bold.

It has been a long time since Clemson actually was Clemson. I know the Tigers made the CFP (albeit as a three-loss ACC champion) in 2024, but the program has not been contending for national **** les since the start of the NIL era (in 2021).

#Football #saturday #second #less

To say that Clemson's offense was terrible against LSU on Saturday night would be a massive understatement.
Clemson couldn't get anything going against LSU's defense, resulting in a 51-10 loss. Quarterback Christopher Vizzina was especially rough, completing only 10 passes for 83 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Fellow Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds also got some playing time, completing four passes for 22 yards.
MORE: Roger Goodell signs new four-year extension to remain as NFL Commissioner
After the game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was asked if Vizzina would start against Georgia Southern next Saturday. He confirmed that he doesn't know.

#four #christopher #fellow

Clemson's season opener could not have gone much worse, and social media had plenty to say about it.
The Tigers were blasted 51-10 by LSU on Saturday night, handing Dabo Swinney the largest loss of his Clemson coaching career. As the score continued to get away from Clemson, fans, ***** ysts and college football accounts quickly turned the performance into one of the biggest talking points of the night.
Much of the criticism centered on just how one-sided the matchup became. LSU finished with 644 total yards while Clemson managed only 145, and the Tigers were beaten 38-8 in first downs.
Those numbers gave Clemson fans very little to defend, while rival fan bases wasted no time piling on.
The reaction was especially harsh considering the expectations surrounding the program entering the season. Instead of making an early statement, Clemson left Baton Rouge with an 0-1 record and plenty of questions.

#tigers #fans #swinney

"It's pretty simple: I win. Google me." That was the first soundbite from the first press conference after Curt Cignetti was named the Head Coach of Alabama football. And in his first two years at Indiana, that's exactly what he's done.
Cignetti immediately turned the program around in year 1 and won 11 games and was selected for a College Football Playoff berth in 2024. The encore in 2025 was something that no one could have seen coming – a perfect 15-0 season with a Big Ten Championship and a National Championship – except maybe Cignetti himself.
MORE: Clemson should move on from Dabo Swinney
Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti prepares to lift the trophy on the podium after the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Now, as we sit on the eve of the 2026 season, a guy who does nothing except win finds himself sitting 6th in the AP Poll, directly after winning a National Championship. What gives? What is up with this disrespect of Cignetti and his Hoosiers?

#Football #national #college

The 2026 college football season got underway with Week 0, but things really kick into gear in the coming days with Week 1.
There will be FBS games from Thursday through Monday, led by a jam-packed slate on Saturday.
The Fox "Big Noon" game will feature defending champion Indiana hosting North Texas, with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt on the call.
ESPN's top broadcast team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the first game of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU against Dabo Swinney and Clemson on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET).
No. 2 Oregon will host Boise State with Brad Nessler and new lead ***** yst Charles Davis providing the broadcast duties for CBS on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET).

#game #call #Monday

The seemingly never-ending soap opera that is Lane Kiffin's existence on Earth continued this week with excerpts from a forthcoming book on the LSU football coach.
One such passage details, among other things, that he encouraged Clemson coach Dabo Swinney to come forward with accusations that Kiffin's former employer, Mississippi, had tampered with a player. According to one of the key characters in that drama, though, it didn't exactly go down like that.
With his Clemson team set to face off against Kiffin's LSU squad this weekend, Swinney denied that Kiffin played any role in the tampering charges he brought against Ole Miss earlier this year after losing linebacker Luke Ferrelli to the Rebels.
REQUIRED READING: Paul Finebaum: Lane Kiffin like 'an ex-girlfriend' — but he'll win ***** le at LSU
"Lane Kiffin had nothing to do with, I mean zero to do with me turning in the tampering situation here. Zero," Swinney said in a news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

#kiffin #zero

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Christopher Vizzina will start at quarterback against No. 11 LSU in Saturday night's season opener.
Vizzina's job security beyond Week 1 is uncertain, and will largely depend on how he performs on the road in what is considered a tough environment.
Swinney is also high on true freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, a two-sport star who played at Queen Creek High in Arizona.
While Swinney said Vizzina has "earned the job" with his consistency in practice, he's not ready to anoint him the starter for the regular season or "give him a lifetime contract."
"He's got to go win some games, and play well," Swinney said Tuesday.

#swinney #vizzina #christopher #saturday

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — The list of football coaches publicly criticizing the possibility of former pros being allowed to return to play in college this season was joined Tuesday by Clemson's Dabo Swinney, who called it a "joke" as his team prepares to play the team at the center of the controversy.
"I just think it's embarrassing where we're at in college football — and we've been there for a while, so," Swinney said ahead of Clemson's season opener at No. 11 LSU on Saturday night.
Former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright began practicing this week at LSU under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, although the former Ole Miss player is not expected to play this week due to the NCAA's acclimatization protocol.
Whether Wright or other players who spent part of this offseason with NFL clubs — a list that also includes defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and defensive back Blake Cotton —- will ever play for LSU or anyone else remains undecided. All Power Four conferences, along with three of the Group of Six conferences, have barred pro players from returning to college football. That stance has resulted in court challenges.
Kiffin, who left Ole Miss for LSU this offseason, has been criticized for the school's decision to actively recruit former NFL players. He defended the decision Monday by saying his decisions are made in "the best interest of the players that sit in this team room and not for my reputation."

#players #Football #miss

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has named Christopher Vizzina his starting quarterback for the Tigers' opener at LSU.
"He's earned that," Swinney said during a press conference on Sept. 1.
"It's been a lot of fun," Swinney said of the quarterback battle. "They've had a very detailed process on how they've gone through it. Every practice, every rep, every throw, everything has been graded to the ninth degree, and (Vizzina) is just a little ahead. He's not a mile ahead, but he's ahead, and practice matters."
Vizzina was the top backup for Cade Klubnik the last two seasons, but with Klubnik now in the NFL, the door opened for the senior to win the job.
While Vizzina was the likely starter heading into the summer, he was competing against freshman Tait Reynolds. Swinney said "there was a time" when he thought Reynolds would win the job, but that Vizzina separated himself during fall camp.

#ahead #clemson

Bill Belichick receives a lot of attention after leaving the NFL, but he's not one of the highest-paid college football head coaches.
In fact, the New England Patriots legend isn't even among the top 10 after making his NFL exit a few years back. However, a host of Big Ten and SEC coaches are firmly in the highest-paid discussion with winning games at a premium.
Notable names like Curt Cignetti and Ryan Day are receiving the most of the country's college football attention based on recent success. Meanwhile, veterans like Dabo Swinney and Kirby Smart aren't going anywhere with their programs earning the spotlight.
Week 0 kicks off the collegiate football season, and while many top programs won't be playing their seasons are just another week away.
MORE: 4 under-the-radar college football stars playing Week 0

#Football #highest #like

Just a week ago, Dabo Swinney said no one had truly separated himself among Clemson's interior defensive linemen. ESPN ***** yst Adam Rittenberg appears to see at least one player worth keeping a close eye on: junior defensive tackle Andy Burburija.
"He had a very productive season in 2025 at Iowa Western, earning first-team NJCAA All-America honors for a national championship squad. Burburija, who grew up northwest of Chicago, joins a Clemson defensive front that replaces three NFL draft picks, including first-rounder Peter Woods."
That turnover has created a major opportunity in the middle of Clemson's defensive line. The Tigers lost experienced pieces such as Woods and DeMonte Capehart, leaving defensive coordinator Tom Allen and his staff searching for players capable of stepping into bigger roles immediately.
Burburija may be one of the most intriguing options. Allen has already spoken highly of the newcomer and the physicality he brings to the position.
"He's not very tall, but he is powerful and he can run…He is so strong."

#defensive #allen #dabo

Clemson football defensive tackle Vic Burley was found by police on Aug. 22 asleep in his truck with the engine running at 2:15 a.m. and showed signs of impairment that led to his arrest, according to an incident report posted by Tigers Illustrated, Clemson's On3 website.
Burley was charged with public disorderly conduct and then suspended indefinitely by the Tigers and coach Dabo Swinney.
According to the report, a Clemson Police officer stopped at the scene when he noticed another person, identified as a male Clemson student, lying in the grass next to the truck on Calhoun Drive. The student stated he was waiting for a friend to give him a ride with his fiancée because they both had been drinking. The student said the truck was his friend's.
The police officer knocked on the windows of the car, received no response, but noticed the shoulder of a person asleep in the driver's seat. A second officer arrived, and they opened the driver's side door, where Burley was found asleep. A "strong odor" of marijuana was detected.
The report said Burley did not initially wake up when the door opened, nor when the truck was turned off. But after Burley woke up, he was unsteady on his feet as he got out of the truck, slurred his speech and "seemed disoriented." His eyes were also drooping, he struggled to remove his identification from his wallet and was slow to respond and did not directly answer questions.

#student

The days of Clemson dominating the ACC Championship appear to be over.
From 2015 to 2022, the Tigers won seven of eight ACC **** les during the peak of Dabo Swinney's dynasty at CU. But with the transfer portal upending the college football landscape and the ACC ending divisions at the start of the 2023 season, the conference **** le has opened up. The league has had a different winner each of the last three seasons, and last year's champion was its most shocking. Duke won its first ACC **** le in the conference-championship era after finishing the 2025 regular season at 7-5 and winning the five-way tiebreaker for second place.
This season should be a lot different for the ACC. For starters, the conference redid its tiebreaker policy in the event of another logjam. On the field, the conference seems to be a one-horse race. According to FanDuel, the Hurricanes are the odds-on favorite to win the ACC at -150, the highest odds to win a P4 conference (Texas Tech is -105 to win the Big 12). However, a second tier has plenty of firepower and is looking to upset Miami. Louisville and SMU, each ranked in the AP Preseason top 25, are tied for second to win the ACC at +750. Although SMU returns starting QB Kevin Jennings, both teams must replace a majority of starters from their nine-win seasons in 2025, but they should be two of the more high-powered offenses in college football this season.
Behind SMU and UL, Clemson sits at +1600 after finally utilizing the portal in the offseason. However, they are starting a quarterback with only one collegiate start under his belt, Christopher Vizzina, who backed up Cade Klubnik for the last three years.
If Miami did not win the ACC this season, it would be a shock. After going to the national championship last year, Mario Cristobal did an excellent job blending his lineup, full of returning starters and high-value transfers.

#season #championship #starters #clemson

SPARTANBURG, SC(WSPA)-Chris Vizzina met with the media for the first time this preseason following Tuesday's Clemson practice as he tries to nail down the starting quarterback job.
Vizzina was declared to have 'the pole position' by head coach Dabo Swinney entering preseason practice. He's battled Tait Reynolds for the starting job as Swinney has yet to declare a starter at the poisition.
The Tigers open the season at LSU Saturday September 5th.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.

#wspa #Media #practice #head

Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik's current coach praised Klubnik's preseason debut, touting his "moxie" and "confidence." Klubnik's former coach has chimed in, too.
"By the time I got to the office, he was out but I texted back and forth with him last night and just proud of him," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said regarding Klubnik's first NFL game, via Alexander Turri of USA Today. "I mean, like I said, he's going to be a great pro."
A fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft, Klubnik will have a chance to become the team's starter following Geno Smith 2.0.
"He's gonna play a long time," Swinney added regarding Klubnik. "He's a really, really talented quarterback and that's why he got drafted and they've obviously seen that too right out of the gate. So, hopefully he stays healthy. If he does, he's going to be one of those guys, you look up and he's played quite a while."
Klubnik played through two significant injuries in 2025 (wrist and ankle). His performance suffered from it, and the team underachieved. He nevertheless emerged from the down year undeterred by his pro prospects.

#swinney #quarterback #played

Clemson won't have much time to ease into the 2026 season.
The Tigers will open the year under the lights at LSU, stepping into one of college football's toughest environments with plenty of questions surrounding a program coming off a 7-6 season.
Dabo Swinney understands exactly what Clemson is walking into. Rather than shy away from the matchup, he views it as an early opportunity to find out just how far his team has come.
"This is going to be a great team that we got to open with, and it ain't going to be easy, and I love it," Swinney said. "I love the challenge. Let's see where we are, go play and see what happens after that."
The opener begins a demanding first month for the Tigers.

#dabo

There isn't much room for another disappointing season at Clemson.
After watching last year's lofty expectations disappear during a 7-6 campaign, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers enter 2026 looking for a much different result. That puts Clemson in an uncomfortable spot nationally, with College Football News' Pete Fiutak ranking the Tigers No. 2 among programs under the most pressure this season.
Only Nebraska landed ahead of Clemson on Fiutak's list, while ACC rival Florida State came in at No. 4.
It's easy to understand why Clemson is so high.
Last year's team appeared built for a major run. The Tigers had experience all over the roster, returned more production than anyone in the country and began the season ranked among the nation's top four teams.

#college

From legends who've become institutions to up-and-coming superstars with the world there for the taking, these are the 15 coaches who are among the very best, but slightly below the current elite.

All of them have won big things, but each is missing something. Can he win the really big games? Where's the national **** le? How long before all the great things turn into something special at a whole other level?

They're all fantastic, and they're all in the top 25 in our 2026 ranking of the best head coaches in college football going into the season.
Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley (right) talks with quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
2025 Coach Rank: 10
FBS Record: 89-63 | FBS Win %: 58.6%
No one seems to grasp that it's way harder than it seems to consistently win at Army. 12 seasons in, Monken continues to produce.
- Army 2026 Team Preview
- CFN Preseason Top 10 Head Coaches
2025 Coach Rank: 24
FBS Record: 213-128 | FBS Win %: 62.5%
The head man at Iowa since 1999 - Troy Calhoun (Air Force) and Dabo Swinney (2009) are the only other coaches to be around since before 2013 - he's an institution with over 100 more FBS wins than all but 11 other current head coaches.
- Iowa 2026 Team Preview

#coaches #california #imagn

Clemson football enters fall camp without a shortage of options in the backfield, and Dabo Swinney expects several of them to have a role this season.
For now, though, Gideon Davidson is getting the first opportunity.
The sophomore will begin camp working as Clemson's first-team running back after showing Swinney significant growth since his freshman season.
"It is going to start with Gideon. He has really done a great job," Swinney said.
Davidson isn't the only player Clemson will be evaluating closely over the next several weeks. Chris Johnson Jr. joined the program this offseason after playing at Miami and SMU, giving the Tigers another experienced option.

#camp #first #dabo #chris

Christopher Vizzina has waited three years for an opportunity to become Clemson football's starting quarterback. As fall camp gets underway, the senior is closer than ever to getting his shot.
Dabo Swinney confirmed Thursday that Vizzina remains ahead of freshman Tait Reynolds in the race to replace Cade Klubnik, who was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
"Again, he's got the pole position, but he's still gotta finish the race," Swinney said.
"He's gotta go finish the race, but he's got a lead into the second half here, so we'll see what happens."
Vizzina hasn't played much during his Clemson career, but he has spent those years developing behind Klubnik rather than looking elsewhere for an easier path to playing time. Swinney believes that approach has helped Vizzina earn credibility inside the Tigers' locker room.

#race #klubnik #finish #christopher

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney singled out one position group he's particularly excited about as the Tigers' fall camp opened Thursday.
Swinney praised the Tigers' tight end room, which features returning players Olsen Patt-Henry and Christian Bentancur, as well as three-star freshman Tayveon Wilson among others.
"That's a room we love," Swinney said at his Thursday press conference.
One player who Swinney thinks is overlooked on the depth chart is former walk-on Charlie Johnson, a graduate senior from Columbia.
"There's a name none of y'all know," Swinney said. "I would throw Charlie Johnson in there. That's Ellis Johnson's son. But man, this was a kid who was a wideout that we were like, 'You know what? Kind of like Brandon Ford back in the day. That big-bodied receiver and we were like, 'Probably needs to move into the tight end (room) if he can toughen up a little bit. That kid (Johnson) is like 235 pounds, and he's got a chance.

#charlie

Clemson obviously had a disappointing season last year, but to their credit, they made major adjustments. This included multiple ****** istant coaching changes, a bevy of major portal acquisitions, and much more successful investment in high school recruiting.
To start the 2026 season, they'll be facing a program that experienced even more change this offseason with LSU bringing in Lane Kiffin as head coach and Charlie Weiss Jr. as offensive coordinator. A huge transfer haul joins them. These two programs will clash in Baton Rouge to start the season. What does Clemson need to nail down before they get there?
1. Do they have a QB they trust?
After electing not to get Christopher Vizzina game experience in the Pinstripe Bowl, it felt like Clemson would look to the transfer portal for their 2026 starting QB. That wasn't the case though as Clemson largely eschewed the portal on offense (other than running back Chris Johnson Jr.). Here's what Coach Swinney said at ACC Media Days on the QB situation.
"We made a decision that we weren't going to go get some shiny object at quarterback… If it doesn't work out, we're going to get raked over the coals for that. You've got to make decisions you believe in… There's a reason why we had confidence in the decision we made. That's because we're there every day. CV has earned the opportunity to go be the starting quarterback at Clemson based on everything we've observed. Now, if we didn't think he was good enough and he hadn't demonstrated the things he can control we might have made a different decision. The other thing is we knew who was coming in and we believed in him (Tait Reynolds) and Brock [Bradley]." – Coach Swinney

#decision #start

The first day of practice has arrived for Clemson football.
The Tigers begin practicing for the 2026 season on Aug. 6. Their first game of the season is Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) against LSU in Baton Rouge.
Last season, Clemson finished 7-6, ending its season with a 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl. It was the worst season the Tigers have had under coach Dabo Swinney since going 6-7 in 2010.
Hoping for improvement, Clemson has reshaped its coaching staff and rebuilt its roster through the transfer portal. Here's what to know on the first day of practice.
Clemson will start preseason practice on Aug. 6.

#season #sept #last

Clemson added another talented quarterback to its future on Thursday.
Four-star signal caller Trace Hawkins announced his commitment to the Tigers, choosing Clemson over LSU, Duke, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt. The Calhoun, Georgia native gives Dabo Swinney and his staff another highly regarded passer to develop as they continue building for the future.
Hawkins has been a familiar face in Clemson over the past year. His first visit came during the 2024 season, and he returned several times in 2026, including trips for the Tigers' spring game, Elite Day and Swinney's high school camp. Those visits gave Clemson's staff multiple opportunities to evaluate the talented quarterback while allowing Hawkins to get a closer look at the program.
The 6-foot-1 passer is coming off a productive sophomore season at Calhoun High School, where he threw for 2,442 yards and 24 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He also added three rushing scores, showcasing his ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs. Recruiting services have already identified him as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class, with both 247Sports and Rivals ranking him among the nation's top prospects.
Hawkins also becomes the first commitment in Clemson's 2028 recruiting class, giving the Tigers an early foundation as the staff looks to build around one of the nation's top young quarterbacks.

#staff

Clemson is officially on the board in the 2028 recruiting cycle.
The Tigers picked up their first commitment in the class on Thursday when four-star quarterback Trace Hawkins announced he will continue his career at Clemson. The Calhoun, Georgia native selected the Tigers over a group of finalists that included LSU, Duke, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt after building a strong relationship with the coaching staff throughout the recruiting process.
Landing Hawkins gives Clemson an early foundation for the class, with the talented passer becoming the first player to publicly pledge to the Tigers for 2028. Quarterback has been a priority position for the staff, and Hawkins emerged as one of the top prospects on Clemson's board after several visits to campus over the last year.
His first trip came during the 2024 season, and he made multiple return visits this spring. Hawkins attended Clemson's spring game, participated in the program's Elite Day event and later returned for Dabo Swinney's high school camp in June. Those visits allowed the coaching staff to evaluate him in person while giving Hawkins plenty of opportunities to become comfortable with the program.
The 6-foot-1 signal caller is coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign at Calhoun High School. He completed the season with 2,442 passing yards and 24 touchdown throws while being intercepted only three times. Hawkins also made an impact on the ground, adding three rushing touchdowns.

#tigers