After a 2025 season that saw Clemson stumble to its lowest win total in 15 years, all eyes are on Dabo Swinney and what comes next. The Tigers, once fixtures in the College Football Playoff conversation, are now trying to reestablish their footing in an evolving ACC landscape. And while the national media is cautiously optimistic, the prevailing tone is curiosity - what does the next chapter of Clemson football actually look like?
According to Athlon Sports' 2026 ACC Power Rankings, Clemson checks in at No. 4 in the conference - trailing Miami, Louisville, and SMU. That’s not unfamiliar territory for most programs, but for Clemson, a team that once treated the top spot like its rightful home, it’s a notable drop. Last year’s 7-6 campaign wasn’t just a dip - it was, as Athlon’s Steven Lassan put it, “one of college football’s biggest disappointments.”
So, Swinney is hitting the reset button - especially on offense.
This fall marks the official beginning of the Christopher Vizzina era under center. The highly touted blue-chip quarterback is stepping in to replace Cade Klubnik, and while that alone would mark a significant shift, it’s the man calling the plays that might be the bigger story.
Chad Morris is back in Tigertown, returning to a role that once helped define Clemson’s rise. He’s tasked with reigniting an offense that’s lacked its former spark - and he’ll be doing it with a fresh face at quarterback.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding this team - more, in fact, than Clemson fans are used to heading into a season. But there’s also talent, and in some key spots, a lot of it.
Sophomore wideout T.J. Moore is the name to watch on offense.
He’s got the tools to become the best receiver in the ACC, and he’s going to be a critical piece in Vizzina’s development. On the other side of the ball, the defense will look to steady the ship behind linebacker Sammy Brown and defensive end Will Heldt - two players capable of anchoring a unit that may need to carry the load early while the offense finds its rhythm.
If Clemson is going to climb its way back to the top of the ACC, it won’t be handed to them. The 2026 schedule is filled with "prove-it" opportunities - and the Tigers are going to have to earn every inch.
Marquee home games include matchups with Miami (Oct. 3), Virginia Tech (Oct. 24), and North Carolina (Sept.
19). Those are games that will test Clemson’s mettle in front of a home crowd that’s hungry for a return to dominance.
On the road, the Tigers face critical showdowns at Florida State (Oct. 31), Cal (Sept. 25), and Duke (Nov.
21). Each of those games presents a different kind of challenge - from hostile environments to stylistic mismatches - and Clemson will need to show they can win away from Death Valley.
Athlon didn’t just rank Clemson - they also labeled them one of the most intriguing teams in the country heading into 2026. And it’s easy to see why.
A new quarterback. A returning offensive mind.
A fan base that’s not used to mediocrity and doesn’t plan on getting comfortable with it.
Whether that mix leads to a 10-win resurgence or another year of growing pains is the big question in the ACC. But one thing’s for sure - Clemson isn’t flying under the radar. They’re the wild card, the team with the pedigree, the talent, and the pressure to prove that 2025 was the exception, not the new norm.