The Atlantic Coast Conference’s preseason media poll has positioned the Clemson Tigers fourth among the league’s 17 football programs, trailing only the Miami Hurricanes, SMU Mustangs and Louisville Cardinals.
Miami entered the poll as the overwhelming favorite, collecting a record 165 first‑place votes, while Clemson earned seven top votes, the second‑most of any team.
The poll also revealed a tight race for the lower tiers, with SMU receiving six first‑place ballots and Louisville four, while the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were projected fifth.
Florida State, despite garnering three first‑place votes, was slated to finish eleventh, whereas the Stanford Cardinal were predicted to finish last and managed a single first‑place vote.
Projected Order of Finish
The full projected order of finish includes all 17 ACC members, reflecting the conference’s deep competitiveness heading into the 2026 season.
Clemson’s 2026 slate features matchups against LSU, Georgia Southern, North Carolina, California, Miami, Charleston Southern, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Duke and South Carolina, setting up a demanding non‑conference and conference schedule.
The poll’s release coincides with heightened anticipation for the upcoming season, as analysts and fans alike await to see whether the Tigers can translate their preseason optimism into on‑field success.