Where Clemson Sits in Post-Spring ACC Rankings
By: Gavin Oliver May 10, 2026

When USA Today released its post-spring college football top 25 last month, Clemson dropped several spots coming out of spring practice, slipping to No. 24 after previously being ranked No. 19 in USA Today’s too-early top 25 released in January.

But how does Clemson stack up among the other teams in the ACC, specifically?

USA Today recently released its post-spring ACC rankings, and the Tigers are around the middle of the pack at No. 7 among the 17 football teams in the league.

Here’s what USA Today’s Paul Myerberg wrote about the Tigers, who are coming off a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025 after starting the year ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll with national title aspirations:

“After a hugely disappointing 2025, Dabo Swinney has given the offense back to former coordinator Chad Morris and is poised to hand the starting quarterback job to backup Christopher Vizzina. The decision not to pursue an experienced transfer could end up dooming the Tigers’ season. Or it could prove the right call if Vizzina can connect regularly with one of the nation’s best receiver groups that includes T.J. Moore, Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr.”

Last season’s national championship runner-up, Miami, sits atop USA Today’s ACC rankings coming out of the spring. The Tigers will host the Hurricanes at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 3.

“The defending national runner-up must replace standout defenders such as edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. but will be sparked by the addition of Duke transfer Darian Mensah at quarterback,” Myerberg wrote. “What Miami needs to achieve before the opener is rebuilding an offensive line that was the driving force behind last year’s playoff run.”

Rounding out the top five after Miami in USA Today’s ACC rankings are SMU, Louisville, NC State and Georgia Tech, in that order. Former Clemson assistant coach Tony Elliott’s Virginia team is also ranked ahead of Clemson, with the Cavaliers checking in at No. 6 after making an appearance in last season’s ACC title game.

Clemson will open the 2026 season against LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Sept. 5. After the home opener against Georgia Southern on Sept. 12, the Tigers will open their ACC slate with a home contest against Bill Belichick’s North Carolina squad on Sept. 19.  

Here’s where all of Clemson’s 2026 conference opponents stand in USA Today’s post-spring ACC rankings:

  • Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina – (No. 14)
  • Sept. 25 (Fri.): at Cal – (No. 9)
  • Oct. 3: vs. Miami – (No. 1)
  • Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech – (No. 8)
  • Oct. 31: at Florida State – (No. 13)
  • Nov. 6 (Fri.) -OR- Nov. 7: at Syracuse – (No. 15)
  • Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech – (No. 5)
  • Nov. 21: at Duke – (No. 12)
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney with his team before the Tigers’ game at Louisville on November 14, 2025 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)