When do Dabo Swinney, Clemson football start preseason practice?

[ASFN Admin]

CLEMSON — Clemson football will start preseason practice on Aug. 6, according to a school spokesperson.

The Tigers are gearing up to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season. Clemson went 7-6 to miss the ACC championship and College Football Playoff. It marked the second-worst season in coach Dabo Swinney's full 17 seasons.

As a result, Swinney brought in new coaches, used the transfer portal more than ever and retained some of Clemson's top talent.

Here's what to know about Clemson before the Tigers start preseason practice.

When does Clemson football start preseason practice?​

Clemson will start preseason practice on Aug. 6.

Who will start at quarterback for Clemson?​

Clemson lost three-year starter Cade Klubnik to expiring eligibility. Swinney opted to not take a portal quarterback, trusting in the players he has recruited and developed.

Clemson's QB competition is down to fourth-year player Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds. Vizzina is the frontrunner to win the job, but Clemson has not announced who will be the Week 1 starter.

When is Clemson football's first game?​

Clemson will open the season against LSU on Sept 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Clemson football schedule 2026​

Here is the entire 2026 Clemson football schedule.

• Sept. 5: at LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC)
• Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern (7:30 p.m., ACC Network)
• Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina (noon, ESPN)
• Sept. 25: at Cal (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
• Oct. 3: vs. Miami
• Oct. 10: Open
• Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern
• Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech
• Oct. 31: at Florida State
• Nov. 7: at Syracuse
• Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech
• Nov. 20: at Duke (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
• Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina

MORE: Why Dabo Swinney welcomes haters, lousy predictions for Clemson football in 2026

What coaches did Dabo Swinney hire, fire and promote for 2026​

Here are Clemson's primary assistants in 2026.

• Offensive coordinator Chad Morris (hired to replace Garrett Riley, who was fired)
• Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Tom Allen
• QB coach Tajh Boyd (promoted after Riley's firing)
• RB coach C.J. Spiller
• WR coach Tyler Grishham
• TE coach Kyle Richardson
• OL coach Matt Luke
• DE coach Chris Rumph
• DT coach Nick Eason
• LB coach Ben Bouleware
• CB coach Mike Reed
• Nickelbacks coach Corico Wright (hired from Delaware)
• S coach Nolan Turner (promoted to replace Mickey Conn, who was fired)
• Defensive pass game coordinator Thomas Allen (promoted)
• Strength coach Dennis Love (promoted after Joey Batson retired)
• Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia (hired to replace Will Gilchrist)

Clemson football returning starters in 2026​

• WR Bryant Wesco Jr.
• WR T.J. Moore
• TE Olsen Patt-Henry
• OL Harris Sewell
• OL Collin Sadler
• DE Will Heldt
• LB Sammy Brown
• LB Jeremiah Alexander
• CB Ashton Hampton
• K Nolan Hauser
• P Jack Smith

Note: Defensive starters determined from base 4-3 personnel.

Clemson football starters lost in 2026​

• QB Cade Klubnik
• RB Adam Randall
• WR Antonio Williams
• OL Blake Miller
• OL Tristan Leigh
• OL Ryan Linthiucm
• DE T.J. Parker
• DT Peter Woods
• DT DeMonte Capehart
• LB Wade Woodaz
• CB Avieon Terrell
• S Khalil Barnes
• S Ricardo Jones

MORE: While Dabo Swinney awaits tampering ruling, Clemson coach has message for NCAA

Who Clemson, Dabo Swinney have added, lost in portal for 2026​

Additions:

• SMU RB Chris Johnson Jr.
• Wingate WR Jaylen Brown-Wallace
• Colorado DE London Merritt
• Howard DE CJ Wesley
• Oklahoma DT Markus Strong
• West Georgia DT Kourtney Kelly
• Texas State DT Devarrick Woods
• Auburn CB Donovan Starr
• Penn State CB Elliot Washington II
• Southern Miss S Corey Myrick
• Old Dominion S Jerome Carter III

Losses:

• Cal LB Luke Ferrelli (transferred to Clemson, then re-entered to transfer to Ole Miss)
• RB Keith Adams Jr. (Georgia State)
• WR Parker Fulghum (Louisiana-Monroe)
• TE Josh Sapp (West Virginia)
• OL Rowan Byrne (North Carolina)
• DE Markus Dixon (Oregon)
• DT Stephiylan Green (LSU)
• LB Jamal Anderson (SMU)
• LB Dee Crayton (UNLV)
• CB Michael Manaka
• CB Shelton Lewis (Arkansas)
• S Ricardo Jones (Vanderbilt)
• S Rob Billings (Jacksonville State)
• S Khalil Barnes (Georgia)
• ATH Marquise Henderson (Samford)

Clemson football 2026 recruiting class​

Clemson signed 22 high school players and one junior college recruit in 2026. The Tigers' class is ranked 20th nationally and fourth in the ACC, per the 247Sports Composite.

Here's each signee.

• QB Tait Reynolds
• QB Brock Bradley
• WR Naeem Burroughs
• WR Gordon Sellars
• WR Connor Salmin
• WR Keil McGriff
• WR Cam Blivens
• TE Tayveon Wilson
• OL Leo Delaney
• OL Carter Scruggs
• OL Chancellor Barclay
• OL Adam Guthrie
• OL Braden Wilmes
• OL Grant Wise
• DE J.R. Hardrick
• DE Michael Foster
• DT Kam Cody
• JUCO DT Andy Burburija
• LB Brayden Reilly
• CB Shavar Young Jr.
• CB Marcell Gipson
• S Polo Anderson
• LS Jackson Reach

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: When do Dabo Swinney, Clemson football start preseason practice?

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