Clemson’s path through the ACC is set, and the 2026-27 slate gives the Tigers a little of everything: a conference opener at home, a lone meeting with North Carolina left off the board, and the same two opponents showing up twice.
The Tigers begin ACC play Dec. 29 against Virginia in Clemson. That’s one of 15 league teams they’ll see only once in the regular season, a group that also includes Duke, Notre Dame, Louisville and several others scattered across the calendar.
Florida State and Georgia Tech are the repeat opponents. Clemson gets the Seminoles at home on Jan. 23 and then heads to Tallahassee on Feb.
- Georgia Tech comes to Clemson on Jan. 12 before the return trip on Feb. 16 or Feb.
There’s a heavyweight home date with Duke on Jan. 30, and the schedule also sends Clemson on the road to NC State, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Miami, Virginia Tech, SMU and Louisville. Home league games include Virginia, Wake Forest, California, Syracuse, Stanford and Notre Dame.
North Carolina is the one ACC program missing from Clemson’s schedule.
The regular season closes March 6 at Louisville, with the ACC Tournament set for March 9-13 in Greensboro, should Clemson qualify.
The Tigers will be entering their 17th season under coach Brad Brownell after finishing 24-11 and making their third straight NCAA Tournament last season.
Clemson is bringing back guards Dillon Hunter, Ace Buckner and Zac Foster, forwards Chase Thompson and Dallas Thomas, and center Carter Welling. The roster also includes four transfers: guards Cole Certa from Notre Dame and Liutauras Lelevicius from TCU, plus forwards Dylan Faulkner from Samford and David Fuchs from San Francisco.
The recruiting class features three high school additions: four-star guard Harris Reynolds, three-star center Will Stevens and three-star guard Amare James.
Here’s the full 2026-27 schedule:
Oct. 23: Georgia (exhibition)
Oct. 28: Presbyterian (exhibition)
Nov. 2: Stetson
Nov. 6: American
Nov. 9: North Dakota
Nov. 13: Georgetown
Nov. 16: The Citadel
Nov. 23: vs. Ole Miss (Maui Invitational in Lahaina, HI)
Nov. 24: vs. Washington or BYU (Maui Invitational)
Nov. 25: TBD (Maui Invitational)
Dec. 1: Auburn (ACC/SEC Challenge)
Dec. 6: Le Moyne
Dec. 12: at TCU
Dec. 15: at South Carolina
Dec. 19: vs. Cincinnati (Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati)
Dec. 22: Colgate
Dec. 29: Virginia*
Jan. 2: at NC State*
Jan. 5: at Boston College*
Jan. 9: Wake Forest*
Jan. 12: Georgia Tech*
Jan. 16: at Pittsburgh*
Jan. 23: Florida State*
Jan. 27: at Miami*
Jan. 30: Duke*
Feb. 2: at Virginia Tech*
Feb. 6: California*
Feb. 10: Syracuse*
Feb. 13: at Florida State*
Feb. 16 or Feb. 17: at Georgia Tech*
Feb. 20: Stanford*
Feb. 23: at SMU*
March 2: Notre Dame*
March 6: at Louisville
March 9-13: ACC Tournament (Greensboro, NC)
In Other News...
Clemson May Need This Unexpected Two-Way Move More Than Ever
Clemsons defensive tackle room has been thin enough that the staff is willing to lean into an unusual solution, and Dietrick Pennington is right in the middle of it. After five years on the offensive line, he has been transitioned to play on both sides of the ball for the 2026 season, and his first test on defense came against No. 11 LSU, where he logged six snaps at defensive tackle and held up well in the moment.
Nick Eason has singled out Penningtons work ethic, versatility and leadership, which matters even more with the current injuries affecting the position group. For Clemson, the appeal is obvious: a veteran lineman who already understands the grind, can absorb multiple roles and may have to do more than anyone expected when the Tigers need bodies up front. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Backed Down In An SEC Fight Clemson Fans Know Well
LSUs latest roster move only underscores how tense its relationship with the SEC has become heading into the 2026 season. After legal disputes over eligibility rules and a conference threat to expel the Tigers for trying to sign former professional players, LSU moved to comply and shaped its final 105-man roster around the rules the league laid out.
The ripple effect matters beyond Baton Rouge, especially for Clemson fans who remember plenty of SEC power plays of their own. With the roster settled, LSU turned to sophomore cornerback Aidan Anding and junior defensive end Gabriel Reliford to fill the spots, a practical pivot that closed one chapter of the fight without erasing how messy it had gotten. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Home Opener Comes With One Huge Question Still Hanging
Clemsons first home game of the 2026 season arrives Sept. 12 against Georgia Southern, and it comes with the Tigers already trying to steady themselves after an opening loss to LSU. The return to Death Valley should bring the usual buzz, with tickets on sale at a range of prices depending on where fans want to sit, but the bigger football question hanging over the week is still the same one Clemson left camp with.
At quarterback, Dabo Swinney has kept things open, declining to name a starter and leaving Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds in the mix. Both players are listed as co-starters on Clemsons official depth chart, and the picture figures to stay fluid heading into the home opener as the Tigers look for their first win and a clearer answer under center. [Read more 🡒]