Clemson Tigers Ranked 27th in Athlon Sports' Preseason Rankings

Clemson Tigers are ranked 27th in Athlon Sports' preseason rankings, despite finishing 7-6 in 2025.

What happened?

The Tigers missed out on the ACC title race, but are expected to bounce back with a talented offense.

Christopher Vizzina is expected to take over at quarterback, while Chad Morris returns to oversee the offense.

The Tigers also return a talented group of receivers, giving the new quarterback an experienced supporting cast.

Why it matters for Clemson Tigers

A big reason for the optimism is the offense, with key players like Christopher Vizzina and Chad Morris.

Defensively, Sammy Brown and Will Heldt are among the key returning contributors, and Clemson addressed several needs through the transfer portal.

The Tigers won't have an easy path back into the national spotlight, with their season opening against LSU on 2026-09-05.

What comes next?

Clemson hosts No. 7 Miami in one of the marquee ACC matchups of the season, and rival South Carolina sits just one spot behind the Tigers at No. 28.

Athlon's top five features Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame and defending national champion Indiana.

Miami is the ACC's highest-ranked team, while SMU and Louisville also earned spots inside the top 25.

Several of Clemson's opponents landed in the upper half of the rankings, including Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.

The Tigers will have opportunities to quickly prove they belong much higher than No. 27.

And with multiple ranked opponents on the schedule, Clemson will be tested early and often.

But with a talented offense and key returning contributors, the Tigers are poised for a bounce back season.

So the question is, can Clemson live up to the expectations and make a run at the ACC title?