Clemson's Latest Bowl Prediction Leaves a Lot to be Desired

Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney enters the 2026 season motivated to prove last year was a fluke.

After a 3-5 start in 2025, the Tigers went on a four-game winning streak, including a win over then-No. 20 Louisville to make the Pinstripe Bowl. Clemson lost the Pinstripe Bowl in a 22-10 loss to Penn State and interim head coach Terry Smith.

The Tigers face an uphill battle to be a College Football Playoff contender this year. The defense should be talented, but there are questions on the offense with Tait Reynolds and Christopher Vizzina battling for the starting quarterback gig. 

Clemson starts the season with a brutal opener on the road against LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin. The Tigers will play an ACC schedule that includes Miami, Virginia Tech, but they should be favored in the rest of their conference matchups. 

Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports predicted Clemson to make the Holiday Bowl this season and face Washington. That would put the Tigers in the territory of winning eight or nine games in the regular season, which would be disappointing to many fans of the program.

Swinney wants to win more than nine games, as he told On3's Brett McMurphy earlier this year that winning 10 games is the mark of a good season.

“You know, 10 wins is not a bad year," Swinney said. "11 wins is not a bad year. How many other teams have had four out of the first six years of this decade with 10-plus wins? Five years with nine plus wins? 

"How many? It’s a short list. How many teams have won three (conference) championships the first six years of this decade? It’s a very short list.”

It's hard to argue with Lassan's prediction, especially given the way Clemson has played in the regular season the last two years. The Tigers have struggled against inferior opponents, and it's easy to believe that will be the case in 2026. 

It'll be up to the offense to make a run for something greater than the Holiday Bowl, but the CFP feels out of reach for this season.