The offseason hasn’t even officially started, yet projections for 2026 are already rolling in across the college football landscape. USA Today joined the early forecast rush by releasing its first top 25 for next season, slotting Clemson at No. 19.
The Tigers land in the middle of the rankings after a season that fell well short of expectations. Clemson stumbled to a 7–6 finish in 2025, a sharp contrast from the optimism that surrounded the program last summer when it opened the year inside the top five of the preseason AP Poll with championship hopes.
USA Today’s Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg acknowledged the risk attached to Clemson’s placement, pointing to lingering questions on offense and how much needs to change for the Tigers to rebound:
“This is a major roll of the dice given how the Tigers’ abysmal 2025 season and the uncertainty at quarterback, with junior Christopher Vizzina set to take over after an unimpressive run in the backup role. But Clemson has done a better job in the portal, grabbing edge London Merritt (Colorado), safety Corey Myrick (Southern Mississippi) and corner Donovan Starr (Auburn), among others, and Dabo Swinney will still have a roster that might be the most talented in the ACC. A lot is hinging on whether new offensive coordinator Chad Morris can recapture the magic of his previous stint with the program.”
Texas claimed the top spot in the poll, with Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, and Notre Dame also appearing in the top five. Miami emerged as the ACC’s highest-ranked team at No. 10, while Oklahoma checked in at No. 6.
Brad Brownell emphasizes poor decision making against NC State https://t.co/f3VmBFtnRhpic.twitter.com/j8HJ14IjIJ
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) January 22, 2026
Clemson’s path into the 2026 season begins with a high-profile road trip to Baton Rouge, where the Tigers will face LSU on Sept. 5. LSU was ranked No. 15 in USA Today’s early projections.
Beyond Clemson and Miami, SMU and Florida State also cracked the top 25 at No. 16 and No. 22, respectively. Clemson is slated to host Miami and visit Florida State, though SMU is not on the Tigers’ regular-season schedule.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Where Clemson football lands in USA TODAY Sports way-too-early ranks
