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CLEMSON — Clemson football's 2026 success will ultimately come down to how well the Tigers' starting quarterback plays.
Clemson will have a new starter for the first time since 2023 because Cade Klubnik's eligibility expired. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney opted not to pursue a transfer despite all of the quarterbacks on his roster combining for one start.
After spring practice, Clemson's quarterback competition is down to fourth-year quarterback Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds.
Here's Clemson's quarterback outlook entering a pivotal 2026.
Returners:
Additions:
Losses:
Vizzina is in the "pole position" after waiting three seasons to be Clemson's starter. He has a strong arm and is a willing runner who can extend plays with his legs and pick up yards on designed runs.
In his lone start vs. SMU in 2025, he completed 69% of his passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-24 loss. Still, the offense was stagnant in the first half with him in as the Tigers scored just seven points.
MORE: How much Clemson football assistants will make on Dabo Swinney's revamped 2026 staff
Vizzina is a respected leader who waited his turn to play similar to other players on Clemson's roster. His loyalty is one of his most revealing traits, electing not to transfer despite sitting behind Klubnik for three years and Clemson potentially adding a portal quarterback in 2026.
Swinney said Vizzina impressed during spring practice, which will allow him to be the No. 1 quarterback to start preseason practice, which begins Aug. 6.
"We knew where CV was going into it, and we knew what we hoped to see coming out of it and he didn't back up," Swinney said. "He kept going, did a good job."
However, Clemson hasn't said Vizzina will be the season-opening starter. Reynolds, a three-star freshman from Queen Creek, Arizona, became Clemson's No. 2 quarterback after the team's first spring scrimmage.
He passed Denson, Bradley and Pearman halfway through spring practice despite missing most of his final year in high school with a hamstring injury. Similar to Vizzina, Reynolds has a lively arm and is a threat with his legs.
MORE: Ranking Clemson football's toughest 2026 opponents, including LSU, Miami
Swinney has never started a true freshman quarterback to begin a season but has inserted several during the season in his tenure, including Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and Klubnik. Reynolds can join these players if Vizzina falters this year.
In Clemson's spring game, Reynolds was 7-of-10 for 74 yards, rushed for a score and was sacked five times. He had miscues though, including not throwing the ball quicker on a play, failing to keep the ball on a read-option play in the red zone and forgetting to motion a player on a play that resulted in a sack.
"From an arm-strength standpoint and skill set, he has all that. It's just, you got to remember this is a young man that didn't play his senior year," new Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said.
Clemson opens the season against LSU on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., ABC) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It would not be ideal circumstances for a freshman to make his first career start in that environment, so Vizzina will likely get the nod.
Either starting option will be supported by Morris and a talented receiving corps led by Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore.
Morris has emphasized having a strong run game and playing with tempo that will help lead to deep passing plays.
The lack of a run game contributed to Klubnik's struggles in 2025. Clemson averaged 124.5 rushing yards last season (105th nationally), and that led to the team averaging 27.2 points (72nd) and going 60-of-175 (113th) on third downs.
Trusting in Gideon Davidson and the other running backs will take pressure off Vizzina or Reynolds. Clemson's offensive line jelling will be key, too, after the Tigers lost three starters from 2025 and the unit was inconsistent.
"The other thing we believe in is we've got a bunch of playmakers at running back, at tight end, at wide receiver that they're ready to make plays for whoever is under center," Swinney said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney stakes season on Clemson QBs proving he didn't need a transfer
Continue reading...
Clemson will have a new starter for the first time since 2023 because Cade Klubnik's eligibility expired. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney opted not to pursue a transfer despite all of the quarterbacks on his roster combining for one start.
After spring practice, Clemson's quarterback competition is down to fourth-year quarterback Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds.
Here's Clemson's quarterback outlook entering a pivotal 2026.
Who Clemson football added, lost, retained at quarterback
Returners:
- Christopher Vizzina
- Trent Pearman
- Chris Denson
Additions:
- Tait Reynolds (signee)
- Brock Bradley (signee)
Losses:
- Cade Klubnik (NFL draft)
Will Christopher Vizzina or Tait Reynolds be Clemson starting QB?
Vizzina is in the "pole position" after waiting three seasons to be Clemson's starter. He has a strong arm and is a willing runner who can extend plays with his legs and pick up yards on designed runs.
In his lone start vs. SMU in 2025, he completed 69% of his passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-24 loss. Still, the offense was stagnant in the first half with him in as the Tigers scored just seven points.
MORE: How much Clemson football assistants will make on Dabo Swinney's revamped 2026 staff
Vizzina is a respected leader who waited his turn to play similar to other players on Clemson's roster. His loyalty is one of his most revealing traits, electing not to transfer despite sitting behind Klubnik for three years and Clemson potentially adding a portal quarterback in 2026.
Swinney said Vizzina impressed during spring practice, which will allow him to be the No. 1 quarterback to start preseason practice, which begins Aug. 6.
"We knew where CV was going into it, and we knew what we hoped to see coming out of it and he didn't back up," Swinney said. "He kept going, did a good job."
However, Clemson hasn't said Vizzina will be the season-opening starter. Reynolds, a three-star freshman from Queen Creek, Arizona, became Clemson's No. 2 quarterback after the team's first spring scrimmage.
He passed Denson, Bradley and Pearman halfway through spring practice despite missing most of his final year in high school with a hamstring injury. Similar to Vizzina, Reynolds has a lively arm and is a threat with his legs.
MORE: Ranking Clemson football's toughest 2026 opponents, including LSU, Miami
Swinney has never started a true freshman quarterback to begin a season but has inserted several during the season in his tenure, including Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and Klubnik. Reynolds can join these players if Vizzina falters this year.
In Clemson's spring game, Reynolds was 7-of-10 for 74 yards, rushed for a score and was sacked five times. He had miscues though, including not throwing the ball quicker on a play, failing to keep the ball on a read-option play in the red zone and forgetting to motion a player on a play that resulted in a sack.
"From an arm-strength standpoint and skill set, he has all that. It's just, you got to remember this is a young man that didn't play his senior year," new Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said.
Clemson opens the season against LSU on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., ABC) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It would not be ideal circumstances for a freshman to make his first career start in that environment, so Vizzina will likely get the nod.
How Clemson football can support Christopher Vizzina, Tait Reynolds
Either starting option will be supported by Morris and a talented receiving corps led by Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore.
Morris has emphasized having a strong run game and playing with tempo that will help lead to deep passing plays.
The lack of a run game contributed to Klubnik's struggles in 2025. Clemson averaged 124.5 rushing yards last season (105th nationally), and that led to the team averaging 27.2 points (72nd) and going 60-of-175 (113th) on third downs.
Trusting in Gideon Davidson and the other running backs will take pressure off Vizzina or Reynolds. Clemson's offensive line jelling will be key, too, after the Tigers lost three starters from 2025 and the unit was inconsistent.
"The other thing we believe in is we've got a bunch of playmakers at running back, at tight end, at wide receiver that they're ready to make plays for whoever is under center," Swinney said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney stakes season on Clemson QBs proving he didn't need a transfer
Continue reading...
