The early ACC outlook for 2026 is starting to take shape, and for Clemson, it’s a different kind of preseason vibe - one that feels both familiar and foreign all at once.
Athlon Sports just dropped its early conference projections, and Clemson landed at No. 4 in the ACC pecking order, behind Miami, Louisville, and SMU. That’s not a bad place to be - but it’s also not the automatic top-tier billing this program once received by default.
And that shift is meaningful. For years, Clemson was the ACC.
Now, they’re a respected contender, sure, but not the team that keeps the rest of the league up at night.
Athlon didn’t pull any punches in its reasoning. Clemson is coming off a seven-win season - the program’s lowest win total since 2010 - and that’s not something voters or analysts are quick to forget. Steven Lassan of Athlon even labeled the Tigers one of 2025’s biggest disappointments and posed the question that’s been quietly lingering for a while now: Can Dabo Swinney bring this program back to its former dominance?
The answer to that question may hinge heavily on two names: Christopher Vizzina and Chad Morris. Vizzina is stepping into the starting quarterback role, and Morris - returning to the program as offensive play-caller - is tasked with jumpstarting an offense that hasn’t looked like itself in a while. That’s a massive transition, and how quickly that duo finds its rhythm will go a long way in determining Clemson’s ceiling this fall.
There are reasons to be optimistic. T.J.
Moore is already generating buzz as one of the ACC’s top receivers, and on the defensive side, young talents like linebacker Sammy Brown and defensive lineman Will Heldt are poised to take on bigger roles. There’s no shortage of talent in the building - but for the first time in a long time, the question isn’t when Clemson will be back.
It’s *if. *
Still, finishing fourth in Athlon’s projection isn’t a slight - it’s a sign of progress. Clemson tied for seventh in the ACC last season, buried in a crowded middle tier of six-win teams.
Moving up to fourth suggests this team is clawing its way out of that pack, even if they’re not quite ready to reclaim the crown. Nationally, the narrative hasn’t collapsed - but it has certainly shifted.
The schedule offers some clues about the road ahead. Clemson gets Virginia Tech (ranked No. 5) and Georgia Tech (No. 8) at home in Death Valley - both key matchups if the Tigers want to stay in the upper tier.
Meanwhile, road games against Florida State (No. 9), Cal (No.
12), Duke (No. 13), and Syracuse (No. 14) present manageable challenges. North Carolina, projected to finish last in the ACC, also makes a trip to Clemson.
So the opportunity is there. The path is laid out.
The question is: Will the Tigers take it?
Athlon’s projection paints a clear picture of where Clemson stands heading into 2026. The days of being the measuring stick for the rest of the ACC are over - at least for now.
But this isn’t a program being dismissed, either. With a new quarterback, a fresh offensive identity, and young defensive playmakers emerging, this season feels less like a coronation and more like a referendum.
Clemson still has the infrastructure. The tradition.
The pedigree. What it doesn’t have - at least not yet - is the edge that used to separate it from the rest of the conference.
Fourth place isn’t a fall from grace. It’s a challenge.
One that Clemson, if it’s ready, has every chance to meet head-on.