CLEMSON — Since its first year in 2020, the Clemson Softball Program has compiled a 66-22 record against ACC competition. For those doing math that is a 75 percent win percentage in conference play.

The Tigers hope to keep that trend going in 2024.

Though Clemson opens the season against Missouri State on Feb. 8 in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., the Tigers do not have their first ACC series until March 1 when NC State comes to town for a three-game series at McWhorter Stadium.

Clemson is one of three ACC teams ranked in the top 10 of the D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Poll. Defending ACC Champion Florida State is ranked No. 4, followed by Clemson at No. 7 and Duke at No. 8.

Those three are the favorites to contend for the league title this year, as well as contend for a trip to the Women’s College World Series. The Seminoles lost to Oklahoma in the CWS Championship Series last summer.

“Florida State has been the team to beat in our league forever, even before we had a program. They continue to get better,” Clemson head coach John Rittman told The Clemson Insider. “Then when you look at the next two teams that have really given us problems, it is Duke and Virginia Tech. Two powerhouse programs and well coached teams. They get better every year.”

The Tigers will host NC State, North Carolina, Boston College and Duke at McWhorter Stadium this spring, while they go to Virginia, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Louisville. Clemson does not play Florida State or the Hokies in the regular season.

“Anybody can beat anybody in our conference on any given day,” Rittman said. “You got Louisville, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. North Carolina had a coaching change so they are looking to build off of that. NC State has a new coach, and they have some talent. We had our hands full with them last year on the road.

“Pitt has a new coach this year. We do not play them in the regular season. Every year, Syracuse plays everybody so tough. Virginia just missed postseason last year and they have really good talent coming in. They were young last year, so they will be better this year.”

To get ready for the ACC slate, Clemson is playing perhaps its toughest non-conference schedule in its brief history.

Clemson’s first 11 games will be on the road with the Tigers returning for their home opener on Friday, Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. against Ole Miss to kick off the Clemson Classic.

Clemson’s non-conference schedule consists of matchups against Indiana, Oregon, Missouri, Utah, Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, Tennessee, Minnesota and South Carolina. Besides Ole Miss, Tennessee, Minnesota and South Carolina will also make trips to McWhorter Stadium this spring.

Oregon (Tied for No. 14), Utah (Tied for No.14), Auburn (No. 19), Georgia (No. 6), Tennessee (No. 3) and South Carolina (No. 22) are ranked in the preseason top 25, according to D1Softball.

“(The ACC) is a really tough league. That is why we set the schedule the way we did this year to help us prepare for that ACC gauntlet,” Rittman said.