Clemson heads into the upcoming season hoping to bounce back from a 7-6 campaign last year and return to the ACC mountaintop after most recently winning the conference title in 2024, earning its most recent College Football Playoff berth in the process.

If the Tigers were to win the ACC Championship this year, it would be the 10th conference title under head coach Dabo Swinney and Clemson’s ninth since 2015.

However, this national outlet doesn’t see Clemson reclaiming its perch atop the ACC, at least not this year.

Athlon Sports released its ACC football predictions, with Steven Lassan projecting the ACC Champion and final ACC standings for 2026.

Lassan predicts Miami, which made a run to last season’s College Football Playoff national championship game, to beat SMU in the 2026 ACC Championship game.

As for Clemson, Lassan predicts the Tigers to finish in fourth place in the conference standings, behind Miami, SMU and Louisville.

“After last year’s underachieving 7-6 season, the ‘26 campaign is a crucial one for the overall direction for Clemson under coach Dabo Swinney,” Lassan wrote. “Sensing the urgency and need for a quick rebound, Swinney made a couple of staff changes, including hiring former play-caller Chad Morris to return as offensive coordinator. Also, the Tigers were more active in the portal than they were in previous years. 

“Will it work? We’ll see. Clemson’s schedule is favorable but contending for the ACC crown is likely to hinge on how quarterback Christopher Vizzina (or Tait Reynolds) develops. If Vizzina delivers solid play, the Tigers have plenty of weapons to make this offense click, including running back Gideon Davidson and receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore. In addition to the question marks at quarterback, an offensive line replacing three starters is a concern. Despite returning only three starters, the outlook is better on defense. Coordinator Tom Allen has a strong front led by end Will Heldt to build around in the trenches, with linebacker Sammy Brown returning to anchor the second level. A couple of transfers – including cornerback Elliot Washington II and safety Jerome Carter III – provide needed talent and speed on the back end.”

Clemson went 4-4 in ACC play last season, tying with four other teams for seventh place in the conference standings.

Clemson’s 2026 schedule includes home ACC games against North Carolina (Sept. 19), Miami (Oct. 3), Virginia Tech (Oct. 24) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 14), while the Tigers will play road ACC games against Cal (Sept. 25), Florida State (Oct. 31), Syracuse (Nov. 7) and Duke (Nov. 20).

For Clemson’s conference opponents, Lassan predicts Virginia Tech to finish fifth in the ACC standings, Georgia Tech at No. 8, Cal at No. 10, Florida State at No. 11, Duke at No. 13, North Carolina at No. 14 and Syracuse at No. 15.

The 2026 ACC Championship Game returns to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, December 5, with kickoff set for noon on ABC.