National expectations for Clemson football aren’t nearly as low as some might have expected after last season.
Despite finishing 7-6 in 2025 and missing out on the ACC ***** le race, the Tigers begin the offseason just outside the top 25 in Athlon Sports’ preseason rankings. Clemson was slotted at No. 27 in Athlon’s full ranking of all 138 FBS programs, signaling that the publication believes Dabo Swinney’s team has the pieces to bounce back in 2026.
A big reason for that optimism is the offense. Christopher Vizzina is expected to take over at quarterback, while Chad Morris returns to Clemson to oversee the offense. The Tigers also return a talented group of receivers, giving the new quarterback an experienced supporting cast. Defensively, Sammy Brown and Will Heldt are among the key returning contributors, and Clemson addressed several needs through the transfer portal, particularly in the secondary.
The Tigers won’t have an easy path back into the national spotlight. Their season opens with a road trip to LSU, which Athlon ranked No. 10, before Clemson hosts No. 7 Miami in one of the marquee ACC matchups of the season. Rival South Carolina sits just one spot behind the Tigers at No. 28, setting up another intriguing regular-season finale.
Athlon’s top five features Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame and defending national champion Indiana. Miami is the ACC’s highest-ranked team, while SMU (No. 22) and Louisville (No. 23) also earned spots inside the top 25.
Despite finishing 7-6 in 2025 and missing out on the ACC ***** le race, the Tigers begin the offseason just outside the top 25 in Athlon Sports’ preseason rankings. Clemson was slotted at No. 27 in Athlon’s full ranking of all 138 FBS programs, signaling that the publication believes Dabo Swinney’s team has the pieces to bounce back in 2026.
A big reason for that optimism is the offense. Christopher Vizzina is expected to take over at quarterback, while Chad Morris returns to Clemson to oversee the offense. The Tigers also return a talented group of receivers, giving the new quarterback an experienced supporting cast. Defensively, Sammy Brown and Will Heldt are among the key returning contributors, and Clemson addressed several needs through the transfer portal, particularly in the secondary.
The Tigers won’t have an easy path back into the national spotlight. Their season opens with a road trip to LSU, which Athlon ranked No. 10, before Clemson hosts No. 7 Miami in one of the marquee ACC matchups of the season. Rival South Carolina sits just one spot behind the Tigers at No. 28, setting up another intriguing regular-season finale.
Athlon’s top five features Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame and defending national champion Indiana. Miami is the ACC’s highest-ranked team, while SMU (No. 22) and Louisville (No. 23) also earned spots inside the top 25.
4 months ago
