Clemson’s 2026 season opens under the lights in Baton Rouge, with the Tigers heading to LSU on Sept. 5 for a nationally televised prime-time matchup. It’s a fresh start for Clemson at quarterback, with Christopher Vizzina taking over the offense after making one start last season. The other side is starting over too, as LSU begins the Lane Kiffin era with a portal-driven roster that includes Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt.
The game also comes with a familiar reminder from last season: the SEC’s Tigers beat Clemson 17-10 in the opener at Clemson.
For fans looking to watch, Clemson vs. LSU will air nationally on ABC.
Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be on the call from Tiger Stadium, with Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sideline. Streaming is available through Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Clemson also enters the year with Chad Morris back in the building as offensive coordinator. Morris, who held the same job at Clemson from 2011-14, returns to help boost the Tigers’ running game.
Here’s Clemson’s 2026 schedule: Sept. 5: at LSU, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
Sept. 12: Georgia Southern, 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network
Sept. 19: UNC, 12 p.m. on ESPN
Sept. 25: at Cal, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Oct.
3: Miami (FL), TBD
Oct.
10: OPEN DATE
Oct.
17: Charleston Southern, TBD
Oct.
24: Virginia Tech, TBD
Oct. 31: at Florida State, TBD
Nov. 7: at Syracuse, TBD
Nov.
14: Georgia Tech, TBD
Nov. 20: at Duke, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Nov. 28: South Carolina,
Dec. 5: ACC Championship Game, Charlotte
In Other News...
Clemson Must Fix One Ugly Problem Fast After LSU Humbling
Clemsons opener against LSU turned into the kind of night that can expose a lot more than a scoreboard. The Tigers were beaten badly in a 51-10 loss, the most lopsided defeat of the Dabo Swinney era, and the ugliest part of it came in the trenches. LSU controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish, piling up 309 rushing yards while Clemson could manage only 40 of its own, a mismatch that made the rest of the game feel like a formality.
For Clemson, the concern now is bigger than one rough result because the issues touched both sides of the ball. Injuries thinned key defenders, the offensive line never settled in, and the staff is already weighing adjustments in strategy to get the group playing cleaner and tougher. After a loss that starkly showed how far there is to go, the Tigers are left with an early-season problem that has to be fixed quickly if the rest of the year is going to look anything like they expected. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Got An Early Reality Check On Its Toughness
A long night in Baton Rouge offered Clemson an immediate measuring stick, and it was a harsh one. No. 11 LSU pushed the Tigers around from the opening series at Tiger Stadium, winning 51-10 in a game that looked lopsided on the scoreboard and even more so in the trenches. Clemson never found much rhythm on offense, and the physical gap between the two teams was obvious well before the final whistle.
Christopher Vizzinas first full-time start was part of the story for Clemson, but the bigger concern was how little the Tigers could do to sustain drives or answer LSUs pressure. Clemson managed only 145 yards and eight first downs, while LSU kept the ball for most of the night and never let the game drift into any real danger. For a team trying to prove it can handle the week-to-week grind, this was a reminder that toughness gets tested quickly against elite competition. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Opened A Dabo Debate Fans Never Wanted
Clemsons long run under Dabo Swinney has been defined by stability, but the programs recent slide has nudged an uncomfortable conversation into the open. If the Tigers ever find themselves needing a new direction, the search would almost certainly start with someone who already knows the place, the expectations and the pressure that comes with them.
One name that naturally fits that profile is Tony Elliott, now at Virginia and still viewed as one of the more appealing coaching minds on Clemsons orbit. His Clemson background gives him obvious familiarity, but what makes him stand out is the way he has adjusted as a head coach, leaning into the transfer portal and showing a willingness to adapt on offense. In a moment where Clemson has to think carefully about what comes next, that combination of ties and flexibility makes Elliott a candidate worth keeping in mind. [Read more 🡒]