Clemson Lands at No. 7 in CBS Sports' 2026 ACC Football Power Rankings

Tigers look to bounce back from 7-6 season in 2025 with new wave of talent

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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CBS Sports released its 2026 ACC football power rankings, placing Clemson at No. 7 in the conference. The Tigers are hoping to rebound from a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025 and welcome in a new wave of talent to replace the mass exodus from last year's squad. Clemson's 2026 schedule includes home games against North Carolina, Miami, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech, as well as road games against Cal, Florida State, Syracuse, and Duke.

Why it matters

Clemson has been one of the top programs in the ACC over the past decade, winning six conference titles since 2015. However, the Tigers took a step back in 2025, finishing tied for seventh in the league standings. This ranking provides insight into how the national media views Clemson heading into the 2026 season as the program looks to return to its winning ways.

The details

CBS Sports' Chip Patterson noted that Clemson is 'poised to welcome in just nine transfers in a class that ranks 69th nationally and 15th in the ACC.' The Tigers are 'betting on a new wave of talent taking over in the wake of a mass exodus from last year's squad.' Clemson's 2026 schedule features home ACC games against North Carolina, Miami, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech, as well as road conference matchups against Cal, Florida State, Syracuse, and Duke.

  • CBS Sports released its 2026 ACC football power rankings on February 8, 2026.

The players

Dabo Swinney

Clemson's head football coach, who is entering his 17th season leading the Tigers program.

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What they’re saying

“There is not much of a transfer portal report for Dabo Swinney's group, as the Tigers are poised to welcome in just nine transfers in a class that ranks 69th nationally and 15th in the ACC.”

— Chip Patterson, CBS Sports Writer (theclemsoninsider.com)

“Betting on Clemson's success in 2026 is belief in a new wave of talent taking over in the wake of a mass exodus from last year's squad, which started the year with title hopes and plenty of NFL-bound talent but never found its footing as a legit contender. Maybe new blood can yield new results after a couple of seasons of underperforming, but there's enough unknown to prevent a placement inside the top five of the league when it comes to power rankings.”

— Chip Patterson, CBS Sports Writer (theclemsoninsider.com)

What’s next

Clemson will look to prove the doubters wrong in 2026 as the Tigers aim to return to the top of the ACC standings and contend for a conference championship.

The takeaway

After a disappointing 2025 season, Clemson is facing questions about its ability to bounce back and regain its status as one of the premier programs in the ACC. The Tigers' 2026 recruiting class and schedule will be crucial factors in determining whether the program can reestablish itself among the conference elite.