CLEMSON, S.C. — Unranked at the end of a 7-6 campaign last season, Clemson enters the 2026 season holding the No. 23 spot in the preseason Coaches Poll—the program’s lowest preseason positioning under head coach Dabo Swinney since 2011.
As the Tigers navigate a period of roster and coaching transition, USA Today Sports evaluated the top teams in the poll, identifying “one lingering question” for each program entering the fall.
For Clemson, analyst Paul Myerberg identified the primary hurdle as whether newly rehired offensive coordinator Chad Morris can “fix things on the ground and on third down.”
“Rehired this past winter after holding the same spot from 2011-14, offensive coordinator Chad Morris faces two pressing tasks beyond his work in getting quarterback Christopher Vizzina ready for the starting job,” Myerberg wrote. “Last year’s team was held under 100 rushing yards five times while converting just 34.3% of the time on third down.”
The Tigers’ ground attack is expected to return to prominence under Morris, who replaces former offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. Clemson’s backfield features sophomore Gideon Davidson alongside SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr.
Opening Test at LSU
Clemson opens its season on Sept. 5 in Baton Rouge against No. 13 LSU, led by new head coach Lane Kiffin.
Analyzing LSU’s outlook, Myerberg framed the program’s primary question around “how quickly does this come together?”
“The Tigers will need to hit the ground running with the season opener at home against Clemson,” Myerberg wrote. “But what will determine LSU’s status as a playoff contender is how well this team comes together before games at Ole Miss and home against A&M to end September. The talent is there for Kiffin’s debut to be a smashing success.”
Miami’s Front Seven and National Landscape
Clemson’s regular-season schedule includes one other opponent featured in the preseason Coaches Poll Top 25: No. 7 Miami, which visits Memorial Stadium on Oct. 3.
For the Hurricanes, Myerberg questioned whether the defensive front can be “even better” despite notable personnel losses.
“Miami lost a pair of wrecking balls in Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor but could be just as dominant up front in 2026,” Myerberg wrote. “The Hurricanes are loaded in the middle behind Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott. It’ll come down to the edges, where senior Damon Wilson II is a breakout candidate.”
At the top of the preseason Coaches Poll, Ohio State holds the No. 1 ranking, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame to round out the top five, while defending national champion Indiana holds the No. 6 spot.
