Here we go again. The national talking heads are lining up to doubt Dabo Swinney and our Clemson Tigers, tossing out their hot takes and giving us all the bulletin-board material we could ever want heading into a 2026 season that’s shaping up to be a Tiger redemption tour for the ages.
On3’s Andy Staples just dropped his preseason ACC power rankings, and he’s got the Tigers all the way down at No. 5. That’s right—fifth. After a bumpy 7-6 campaign last year, which was only the second time in Dabo’s 17 full seasons we’ve stumbled like that, the media is tripping over themselves to bury the orange and purple. Meanwhile, they’re hyping up Miami at No. 1, SMU at No. 2, Virginia at No. 3, and Louisville at No. 4. It’s the same old story: everyone’s eager to count Clemson out.
Fueling the Fire in Death Valley
Sure, we finished 4-4 in ACC play last year and got stuck in a traffic jam for seventh place, but let’s be honest—what counts as a down year in Tiger Town would be a dream come true for just about every other program in the league.
Staples called last season "discouraging" because of all the talent on the roster, and he’s even hinting that Dabo is facing a make-or-break year. That’s a bold claim for a coach who’s built a dynasty in Death Valley.
“The Tigers remain one of the most talented teams in the ACC despite losing nine draft picks, but the fact that they went 7-6 last season with all those draft picks is discouraging. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney needs to prove he hasn’t lost his touch. Fail to improve this season and the consequences could be dire,” Staples wrote.
A New Chapter Under Center and On Defense
Nine Tigers just punched their tickets to the NFL, but don’t let anyone tell you the cupboard is bare in Tiger Town. This defense is loaded with future pros, and the battle for starting quarterback is about as fierce as it gets. Iron sharpens iron, and there’s no shortage of talent ready to step up.
Staples did get one thing right: the position battles in fall camp are going to be must-see, especially with our next wave of Tiger stars ready to make their mark.
“Christopher Vizzina has waited his turn behind Cade Klubnik at QB, but Vizzina may get a push from freshman Tait Reynolds in preseason practice. Linebacker Sammy Brown and edge Will Heldt lead a defense that still has plenty of future NFL players. The question is how much production Clemson will get out of those players against a schedule that starts with Lane Kiffin’s debut at LSU.”
Navigating the 2026 ACC Gauntlet
The best part about these summer rankings? They don’t mean a thing once the pads start popping. Our Tigers have every chance to tear them up on the field. Clemson’s road back to the top is set, and the toughest challengers will have to survive the roar of Death Valley if they want to stand in our way.
We’ve got North Carolina (Staples’ No. 15), a can’t-miss showdown with Miami (No. 1), Virginia Tech (No. 7), and Georgia Tech (No. 12) all coming to Memorial Stadium. On the road, the Tigers will take the fight to Cal (No. 8), Florida State (No. 13), Syracuse (No. 14), and Duke (No. 6). Every week is a chance to prove the doubters wrong.
Let the pundits run their mouths all summer. With Christopher Vizzina set to ignite the offense, Sammy Brown leading a defense that’s hungry to hit, and Dabo Swinney more fired up than ever to prove the doubters wrong, the climb back to the top starts the moment toe meets leather in week one.
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