Clemson Tigers Fall Down Rankings Ahead of 2026 Season

The Clemson Tigers are entering the 2026 season on a mission to bounce back after struggling in 2025.

Dabo Swinney and the Tigers finished with a 7-6 record, missed out on the College Football Playoff, and were unable to win the ACC.

Ahead of the 2026 season, ESPN released a college football future power rankings list through 2027, with Clemson coming in at 22nd. Their previous ranking on this list was 7th, but after a rough season, they've fallen down the pecking order.

The quarterback position was one of the top concerns about the Tigers' future. The New York Jets selected Cade Klubnik, leaving Christopher Vizzina or Tait Reynolds as the replacement.

Vizzina is the more experienced quarterback, as he's entering his junior season, but he hasn't had much time on the field behind Klubnik. Across 2024 and 2025, Vizzina completed 64 of 105 passes (61 percent) for 596 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception while rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Reynolds is a four-star recruit who was impressive in spring practice but will be a true freshman in 2026. He has a ton of talent, but Swinney may opt for the more experienced Vizzina.

Beyond the quarterback position, the Tigers' coaching staff changes were also noted, as Swinney fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and brought in Chad Morris for his second stint in that role.

Clemson will need Morris to help develop the starting quarterback for the offense to be successful.

While it's disappointing to see the Tigers fall so far in the future rankings, it's warranted after an underwhelming season. 

However, Swinney has been aggressive in improving the future outlook of the team, as Clemson has been very active in recruiting a strong 2027 class. They have landed several four-star recruits and currently have the seventh-ranked class in the nation.

If the Tigers are able to put together a strong season in 2026, along with their great 2027 class thus far, they could jump back up to being a top team in the rankings on this list next year.

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