Clemson isn’t the same program, rank low in this post-spring ACC rankings

· Yahoo Sports

CBS Sports released its post-spring ACC power rankings this week, and Clemson landed at No. 6 entering the summer.

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It’s another sign of how much the outside view of the program has changed.

After spending years at or near the top of the conference, Clemson now finds itself just outside the ACC’s top tier in the eyes of national analysts heading into 2026. Miami took the top spot in the rankings, followed by SMU, Louisville, Pitt and Virginia.

David Cobb pointed to recruiting and roster construction as major reasons for Clemson’s placement.

“Clemson’s past two high school recruiting classes ranked No. 21 and No. 31 in the 247Sports team rankings. That’s good by ACC standards but poor by the standards of a recent national powerhouse,” Cobb wrote. “Though the Tigers are now taking more transfers than before, they aren’t using the portal to accumulate stars. This year’s haul slots in at No. 66 in the 247Sports transfer rankings.”

Clemson enters the season looking to respond after a 7-6 finish in 2025, a year that began with playoff expectations and a preseason top-five ranking. Instead, the Tigers finished well short of those goals, and questions around the program have only continued to follow into the offseason.

Quarterback is one of the biggest storylines, with Christopher Vizzina expected to step into the starting role while Chad Morris returns to run the offense. Though Clemson has pieces in place on both sides of the ball, CBS Sports believes the road back to the playoff won’t be easy.

“If there were an established star quarterback in the fold, maybe it would be easier to envision the Tigers returning to the top of the conference,” Cobb wrote. “But the job belongs to unproven redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina, who will be working under the direction of offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who is back in the OC role after holding it previously from 2011-14. There is enough skill talent around Vizzina and enough proven production on defense for Clemson to finish in the league’s upper third.

“But reaching the playoff will be a tall task for a program coming off a 7-6 campaign.”

Clemson will get an early chance to change that narrative when it opens the 2026 season Sept. 5 against LSU in Baton Rouge. Until then, the Tigers continue to land in a similar range across nearly every post-spring ranking, with most outlets viewing them as a team capable of competing in the ACC, but still with something to prove before being placed back among the conference’s elite.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Latest ACC power rankings are a reminder of how far Clemson has fallen

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