Clemson is certainly no stranger to the College Football Playoff. From 2014-23, the Tigers established themselves as one of the College Football Playoff’s powerhouses of the tournament’s inaugural decade.

In the 10-year history of the four-team format prior to 2024, only 15 programs earned at least one CFP berth, and Clemson ranked second in CFP berths, CFP title game appearances, total CFP wins and CFP titles.

Clemson returned to the CFP in 2024, the inaugural year of the 12-team format, and only Alabama (nine) boasts more all-time CFP appearances than Clemson’s seven. Clemson’s six-year streak of CFP berths from 2015-20 remains the longest streak in the format’s history.

Going into the 2025 season, the Tigers were ranked fourth in the AP Poll and were widely expected to make the playoff once again, and multiple national analysts even picked the Tigers to win the national title. Of course, things didn’t go according to plan for Dabo Swinney’s team, which got off to a dismal 1-3 and then 3-5 start before ultimately finishing the year 7-6, the second-worst full season of Swinney’s tenure.

Heading into the upcoming season, outside expectations for the Clemson program are much different. Clemson checked in at No. 23 in the preseason Coaches Poll, the program’s lowest preseason Coaches Poll ranking since 2011. Clemson was the ACC favorite entering 2025, but now that title belongs to Miami after its run to the national championship game last season.

Now, the Tigers enter the 2026 campaign as a dark-horse contender rather than a national playoff favorite. USA Today highlighted College Football Playoff dark-horse teams entering the 2026 season, and Clemson is listed as the ACC dark-horse sleeper team.

“That Clemson qualifies as an ACC dark horse behind Miami, No. 20 SMU and maybe even unranked Louisville speaks to the program’s steady drop from the ranks of the Power Four’s most consistently powerful programs,” USA Today’s Paul Myerberg wrote. “Yet despite the uncertainty around this year’s team, the Tigers remain very talented, with solid depth and a potential spark at offensive coordinator in familiar face Chad Morris, leaving the biggest question mark whether quarterback Christopher Vizzina is ready for the starting job.”

Clemson will open the 2026 season against LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin on Sept. 5 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. (7:30 p.m., ABC).

The Power Four favorites, according to the preseason Coaches Poll, are No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten), No. 3 Georgia (SEC), No. 7 Miami (ACC) and No. 12 Texas Tech (Big 12). Along with Clemson, USA Today’s College Football Playoff dark-horse picks from the Power Four are No. 19 Washington (Big Ten), No. 9 Oklahoma (SEC) and Arizona State (Big 12).