Clemson’s 2026 schedule is one of the most challenging in the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to this national college football analyst.

On3’s Andy Staples ranked the ACC’s five toughest schedules for the 2026 season, and Clemson’s slate is slotted as the second-most difficult.

Only Florida State’s is harder, per Staples.

Clemson’s 2026 schedule will once again include a seven-game home slate. Among others, the visitors to Memorial Stadium include multi-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels, the College Football Playoff runner-up Miami Hurricanes, the Virginia Tech Hokies in their first season under the guidance of James Franklin, and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

As you know, Clemson will open against LSU for the second straight year, this time on the road in Baton Rouge on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., ABC). ESPN’s College GameDay will be on hand for the marquee matchup, which will mark Lane Kiffin’s debut as LSU’s head coach.

“Dabo Swinney went 7-6 with nine 2026 draft picks on his 2025 roster. Clemson still has plenty of future NFL players, but it’s possible the Tigers take a step back in terms of talent this season,” Staples wrote.

“That’s a challenge with a non-conference schedule that opens with Lane Kiffin’s debut as LSU’s coach in Baton Rouge and closes against a South Carolina team that may or may not be good but has multiple aliens (Edge Dylan Stewart, QB LaNorris Sellers) on the roster.”

Clemson’s eight-game ACC slate includes home games against North Carolina, Miami, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, while the Tigers will play road conference games against Cal, Florida State, Syracuse and Duke.

“Clemson’s conference schedule isn’t nearly as taxing as what the Big Ten and SEC teams the Tigers consider their peers must deal with, but there are some tricky spots. A trip to Berkeley to face Cal on a Friday (Sept. 25) feels like an obvious trap,” Staples wrote.

“That is followed eight days later by a visit from Miami. And yes, the Hurricanes feature prominently in all but one of these schedules. Clemson plays three (Florida State, Syracuse, Duke) of its final five on the road, and while the names don’t look scary, bear in mind that the Tigers lost to three (Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Duke) of those five last season.”

Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Boston College round out the ACC’s five toughest schedules for 2026, per Staples.

Clemson’s 2026 Schedule

Sept. 5: at LSU

Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern

Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina

Sept. 25 (Fri.): at Cal

Oct. 3: vs. Miami

Oct. 10: Open Date

Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern

Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech

Oct. 31: at Florida State

Nov. 7: at Syracuse

Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech

Nov. 20 (Fri.): at Duke

Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina