CBS Sports ranked every power conference starting quarterback entering the 2026 season.

Clemson’s Christopher Vizzina is ranked No. 44 overall among the 68 projected Power 4 starting QBs, and No. 9 in the ACC.

“Dabo Swinney chose not to go to the portal for a quarterback, so Vizzina it is for the Tigers!” CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote. “Behind Cade Klubnik each of the past two seasons, Vizzina did see extended action last fall during a loss to SMU when he threw for 317 yards and three scores. If Clemson gets that level of play out of Vizzina, the Tigers will be a ACC threat throughout the season.”

Following Clemson’s March 28 spring game, head coach Dabo Swinney provided clarity on the Tigers’ quarterback battle, saying that heading into the summer, Vizzina remains the QB1, while true freshman Tait Reynolds has emerged as the No. 2 quarterback. After the spring game, Swinney also readily admitted that Reynolds really has a shot at pushing for Clemson’s starting job.

Swinney then went on to say that redshirt freshman Chris Denson — who entered the spring as the No. 2 quarterback – now has a decision to make about whether he still wants to be a quarterback or if he likes his chances playing another position.

As for Vizzina specifically, the redshirt junior played well Clemson’s spring game, completing 10 of 18 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Swinney said in late January that Vizzina entered spring practice in the “pole position” to take over as the Tigers’ starter in 2026. Now, with spring ball in the books, Vizzina is still in the “pole position” according to Swinney.

Before enrolling at Clemson in January 2023, Vizzina was ranked among the nation’s top prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. The high four-star had more than 30 offers, including from some of the best football programs in the country.

Heading into 2026 after his first three years at Clemson from 2023-25, Vizzina has completed 61 percent of his passes for 596 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in 238 career offensive snaps across 14 games, while also rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries.

This past season, Vizzina appeared in five games, including his only career start vs. SMU, and altogether completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns with one interception, while also rushing for 41 yards on 25 carries.

As for the opposing QBs on Clemson’s 2026 schedule, here’s the projected starters and where they stand in CBS Sports’ power conference starting QB rankings:

Miami: Darian Mensah (No. 5)

LSU: Sam Leavitt (No. 8)

South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers (No. 15)

Cal: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (No. 22)

Virginia Tech: Ethan Grunkemeyer (No. 37)

Syracuse: Steve Angeli (No. 42)

Florida State: Ashton Daniels (No. 53)

Duke: Walker Eget (No. 54)

North Carolina: Billy Edwards Jr. (No. 55)

Georgia Tech: Alberto Mendoza (No. 62)