- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,130,247
- Reaction score
- 59
CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney is confident Clemson football has enough talent and dollars to compete with the top teams nationally.
That optimism will be tested in the Tigers' first five games of 2026. Clemson will face LSU, Georgia Southern, North Carolina, Cal and Miami to begin the year.
In 2025, Clemson went 7-6, the second-worst year in Swinney's full 17 seasons. The Tigers started 1-3, losing to LSU, Georgia Tech and Syracuse. That essentially eliminated Clemson's chances of making the College Football Playoff and ACC Championship.
The Tigers could face similar troubles in 2026 if they stumble in their first five games.
Clemson could start the season with a 2-3 record as the Tigers' toughest games will come against LSU on the road on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), Cal on the road on Sept. 25 and Miami on Oct. 3.
Clemson vs. LSU will be Lane Kiffin's coaching debut for LSU after he departed from Ole Miss after the 2025 regular season. He brought in the best transfer-portal class, according to 247Sports, led by Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt. LSU also landed former Clemson defensive tackle Stephiylan Green.
This will be Clemson's first time playing at LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Whoever wins Clemson's starting quarterback competition between redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds will have his first career road start in one of the toughest places to play.
Clemson will host Georgia Southern, a Group of Six program, on Sept. 12, then UNC, which had one of the worst offenses last season under coach Bill Belichick, on Sept. 19.
Next is a road trip to Cal for a Friday night game on Sept. 25.
MORE: What ACC commissioner said about Dabo Swinney's tampering claim vs Ole Miss
Cal retained Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele after his strong freshman season when he threw for 3,454 yards for 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Golden Bears went 7-6 but had a 4-2 record at home with a notable win against SMU to close the regular season.
With Clemson playing its first conference game on the West coast in program history and having only six days to prepare, Cal could knock off the Tigers in a game that could potentially start at 9, 10 or 11 p.m. ET.
Clemson will next host Miami, the national championship runnerup, on Oct. 3. The Hurricanes brought in Duke transfer Darian Mensah to replace Carson Beck. But Miami also has to replace key players on the offensive and defensive line, including defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.
Still, Miami brought in the fourth-best transfer-portal class and enters 2026 as the team to beat in the ACC under coach Mario Cristobal.
Clemson will enter an open date in Week 6 following its game against Miami then host Charleston Southern, an in-state FCS school.
Clemson's final five ACC games are against Virginia Tech, Florida State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Duke. All of these teams have undergone either coaching or quarterback changes or have questions around their roster.
Clemson's toughest game will be against the Hokies and their new coach James Franklin on Oct. 24. Virginia Tech hired him after Penn State fired him midseason, but Franklin has added some of his former players from the Nittany Lions, including likely starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Another key game will come against Georgia Tech on Nov. 14. The Yellow Jackets lost quarterback Haynes King and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, but their tough, run-heavy offense can give Clemson's defense fits like Georgia Tech did against the Tigers last season.
FSU coach Mike Norvell enters 2026 on one of the hottest seats in college football, Duke will try to repeat as ACC champions after losing Mensah and Syracuse's roster is young and banking on quarterback Steve Angeli to recover fully from his ACL tear.
Conference games are bolded.
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, Clemson football fate could be decided in first 5 games
Continue reading...
That optimism will be tested in the Tigers' first five games of 2026. Clemson will face LSU, Georgia Southern, North Carolina, Cal and Miami to begin the year.
In 2025, Clemson went 7-6, the second-worst year in Swinney's full 17 seasons. The Tigers started 1-3, losing to LSU, Georgia Tech and Syracuse. That essentially eliminated Clemson's chances of making the College Football Playoff and ACC Championship.
The Tigers could face similar troubles in 2026 if they stumble in their first five games.
Clemson could start the season with a 2-3 record as the Tigers' toughest games will come against LSU on the road on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), Cal on the road on Sept. 25 and Miami on Oct. 3.
What LSU, Lane Kiffin will bring against Clemson
Clemson vs. LSU will be Lane Kiffin's coaching debut for LSU after he departed from Ole Miss after the 2025 regular season. He brought in the best transfer-portal class, according to 247Sports, led by Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt. LSU also landed former Clemson defensive tackle Stephiylan Green.
This will be Clemson's first time playing at LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Whoever wins Clemson's starting quarterback competition between redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds will have his first career road start in one of the toughest places to play.
Why Cal could upset Clemson in Week 4
Clemson will host Georgia Southern, a Group of Six program, on Sept. 12, then UNC, which had one of the worst offenses last season under coach Bill Belichick, on Sept. 19.
Next is a road trip to Cal for a Friday night game on Sept. 25.
MORE: What ACC commissioner said about Dabo Swinney's tampering claim vs Ole Miss
Cal retained Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele after his strong freshman season when he threw for 3,454 yards for 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Golden Bears went 7-6 but had a 4-2 record at home with a notable win against SMU to close the regular season.
With Clemson playing its first conference game on the West coast in program history and having only six days to prepare, Cal could knock off the Tigers in a game that could potentially start at 9, 10 or 11 p.m. ET.
Miami retooled roster after losing in national championship
Clemson will next host Miami, the national championship runnerup, on Oct. 3. The Hurricanes brought in Duke transfer Darian Mensah to replace Carson Beck. But Miami also has to replace key players on the offensive and defensive line, including defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.
Still, Miami brought in the fourth-best transfer-portal class and enters 2026 as the team to beat in the ACC under coach Mario Cristobal.
Why Clemson football's second-half schedule is more favorable
Clemson will enter an open date in Week 6 following its game against Miami then host Charleston Southern, an in-state FCS school.
Clemson's final five ACC games are against Virginia Tech, Florida State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Duke. All of these teams have undergone either coaching or quarterback changes or have questions around their roster.
Clemson's toughest game will be against the Hokies and their new coach James Franklin on Oct. 24. Virginia Tech hired him after Penn State fired him midseason, but Franklin has added some of his former players from the Nittany Lions, including likely starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Another key game will come against Georgia Tech on Nov. 14. The Yellow Jackets lost quarterback Haynes King and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, but their tough, run-heavy offense can give Clemson's defense fits like Georgia Tech did against the Tigers last season.
FSU coach Mike Norvell enters 2026 on one of the hottest seats in college football, Duke will try to repeat as ACC champions after losing Mensah and Syracuse's roster is young and banking on quarterback Steve Angeli to recover fully from his ACL tear.
Clemson football schedule 2026
Conference games are bolded.
- Sept. 5: at LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern
- Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina
- Sept. 25: at Cal
- Oct. 3: vs. Miami
- Oct. 10: Open
- Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern
- Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech
- Oct. 31: at Florida State
- Nov. 6 or 7: at Syracuse
- Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech
- Nov. 21: at Duke
- Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina
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, Clemson football fate could be decided in first 5 games
Continue reading...
