Clemson Football's 2026 Comeback Hopes Rise

Clemson football is projected for a strong return in the upcoming 2026 season, earning a No. 27 ranking in Athlon Sports' preseason top 138 FBS teams. This optimism follows a 7-6 record in the previous year. The offense is expected to be a significant strength, with Christopher Vizzina anticipated to lead as quarterback and Chad Morris returning to coordinate the unit. A talented receiving corps will provide Vizzina with experienced targets.

Defensively, key contributors like Sammy Brown and Will Heldt are back, and the team has strengthened its secondary through the transfer portal. Despite these positive developments, the Tigers face a formidable schedule. Their season opener is a road game against No. 10 LSU, followed by a highly anticipated home matchup against No. 7 Miami. The challenging slate also includes their rival, South Carolina, ranked just one spot behind Clemson at No. 28, setting up a crucial regular-season finale.