Clemson entered the 2026 preseason with a No. 23 ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll, a steep fall from the No. 6 spot they held a year earlier. The drop reflects a 7‑6 record in 2025, the first season in Dabo Swinney’s tenure that ended with fewer than nine victories, and a loss in the season opener at home to LSU that knocked the Tigers out of the top eight.
Transition and Expectations
The 2025 campaign unraveled after a 4‑4 stretch following a win over Troy, culminating in a 22‑10 defeat to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl that left the team unranked. Swinney, now in his 18th year, turned to true sophomore Christopher Vizzina to replace departing quarterback Cade Klubnik, who had been the center of Heisman Trophy chatter just a season before.
Vizzina’s debut comes amid a broader reshuffling of the Tigers’ offense, as the team seeks to rebuild around a new starter while still coping with the departure of several key seniors. The preseason poll placed Clemson at 235 points, but the margin over teams such as Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia was narrow, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the ACC powerhouse.
Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin’s move from Ole Miss to LSU has generated headlines, with the Tigers opening the 2026 preseason at No. 13. Kiffin’s arrival has revived expectations in Baton Rouge, where the program finished unranked a year ago despite a 7‑6 record. The contrast between Clemson’s slide and LSU’s modest rise highlights shifting dynamics in college football’s power balance.
The poll, released on August 4, also saw several traditional contenders fall out of the rankings, including Vanderbilt, Virginia and Navy, while a handful of programs received only a handful of votes. As the season approaches, both Clemson and LSU will look to translate preseason expectations into on‑field results.