How many games will Clemson win during the upcoming season?
College Football News (CFN) gave its 2026 season predictions for every team in the ACC, releasing win total projections and predicted records.
The over/under win total for Clemson is 7.5, and CFN is picking the Tigers to fall just shy of that number. CFN projects Dabo Swinney’s team to have a 7-5 record this season.
CFN broke down Clemson’s 2026 schedule, listing Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern as “almost certain wins” — with the Sept. 5 opener at LSU and the Oct. 3 home game vs. Miami as “likely losses.” CFN sees the rest of Clemson’s 2026 slate as “50/50 games.”
CFN also weighed in on the best- and worst-case scenarios for Clemson this year, saying the best-case scenario is that “the Tigers beat the other Tigers” in LSU:
If ever a team needed to get off to a big start, it would be the 2026 Clemson Tigers. They desperately need a shot of life from jump, and nothing would bring it more than beating LSU and screwing up the Lane Kiffin opener.
They win that, pull off the win at home over Miami, and survive a blip somewhere – like at Florida State or at home against Georgia Tech – on the way to the ACC Championship.
On the other end of the spectrum, CFN believes “three losses before the week off” is the worst-case scenario for Clemson:
The Tigers lose to the other Tigers, can’t handle the road trip to Cal – everyone seems to have problems with the Bay Area dates – lose to Miami, and that’s basically it.
There’s a second half run to get to a restaurant-quality bowl, but it’s Clemson – that’s not what you’re shooting for.
CFN highlighted the game against Miami as one of the games that will decide Clemson’s season, along with the Oct. 31 contest at Florida State and the opener at LSU.
Last year, CFN predicted Clemson to go 10-2 before the Tigers suffered through a highly disappointing 7-5 regular season. In 2024, Clemson went 9-3 during the regular season after CFN predicted Swinney’s squad to go 7-5.
You can see Clemson’s full 2026 schedule here.