CLEMSON, S.C. — For the first time in 15 years, Clemson will open a college football season unranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
When the preseason AP poll was released Monday afternoon, head coach Dabo Swinney’s program finished on the outside looking in. Clemson received 112 votes—the most of any team outside the top 25—placing the Tigers effectively at No. 26, just five votes behind No. 25 Missouri (117 votes).
The absence breaks a streak of 15 consecutive preseason AP Top 25 appearances for Clemson, dating back to 2011. It marks only the fourth time in Swinney’s tenure that the Tigers have started unranked in the AP poll, having previously opened outside the top 25 in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
National Rankings and ACC Context
Earlier this month, Clemson was ranked No. 23 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. However, AP voters remained cautious following a 7-6 finish in 2025, a campaign that began with the Tigers ranked No. 4 before a 1-3 start removed them from early playoff contention.
Ohio State earned the No. 1 spot in Monday’s poll, followed by Oregon at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3, Notre Dame at No. 4, and Texas at No. 5.
Three ACC programs landed inside the preseason AP Top 25:
- Miami Hurricanes: No. 7
- SMU Mustangs: No. 19
- Louisville Cardinals: No. 24
Miami entered as the league favorite after topping the ACC preseason media poll. Clemson is scheduled to face only two opponents currently featured in the preseason AP Top 25 during the regular season: Miami and LSU.
Season-Opening Test in Baton Rouge
Clemson will have an immediate opportunity to alter national perceptions in Week 1. The Tigers open their 2026 campaign on Sept. 5 against No. 11 LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The matchup concludes a home-and-home series between the two programs and serves as the head coaching debut at LSU for Lane Kiffin. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasting live from Baton Rouge that morning.
2026 Clemson Schedule Breakdown
- Sept. 5: at No. 11 LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern (7:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
- Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina (Noon ET, ESPN)
- Sept. 25: at California (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Oct. 3: vs. No. 7 Miami (TBA)
- Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern (TBA)
- Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech (TBA)
- Oct. 31: at Florida State (TBA)
- Nov. 7: at Syracuse (TBA)
- Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech (TBA)
- Nov. 20: at Duke (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina (TBA)
