Clemson Featured in ESPN’s ‘Wild’ Predictions for 2026
By: Gavin Oliver May 21, 2026

One hundred days away from kickoff of the 2026 college football season, ESPN college football reporters compiled a list of 100 things to know for the upcoming campaign, including top storylines, games and predictions.

Clemson is featured among 10 “wild” predictions for the season.

That “wild” prediction for the Tigers is that “Dabo Swinney wins again” in 2026.

As you know, Clemson is looking to bounce back from a 7-6 season last year, the second-worst record in Swinney’s full 17 seasons as the Tigers’ head coach.

“Nobody loves proving the talking heads wrong more than Swinney, and 2026 could be his coup de grace,” ESPN wrote. “He hired Chad Morris as his offensive coordinator. He eschewed going after a QB in the portal. He thumbed his nose at everyone who said the game has passed him by.”

ESPN went further, predicting that Swinney will lead Clemson to another ACC Championship and another College Football Playoff appearance this season.

“And that’ll make it all the sweeter when Swinney wins the ACC and makes it back to the College Football Playoff in 2026,” ESPN wrote.

And Clemson’s first-round CFP matchup, ESPN says, will come against Ole Miss and head coach Pete Golding.

Of course, in January, Swinney made headlines when he came out and very publicly accused Ole Miss and Golding of “blatant” tampering with transfer linebacker Luke Ferrelli, alleging that Golding directly texted and negotiated with Ferrelli while he was already enrolled and attending classes at Clemson. With just hours remaining in the transfer portal window, Ferrelli informed Clemson he was heading to Ole Miss.

“The Tigers’ first-round matchup? Ole Miss, of course,” ESPN added. “Winner gets to advance and claim ownership of Pete Golding’s text records.”

Swinney, who is entering his 19th season (and 18th full season) as Clemson’s head coach in 2026, has a career head coaching record of 187-53. He is Clemson’s all-time winningest coach, the winningest coach in ACC history and the first coach to lead the Tigers to multiple national championships. The Tigers have won nine ACC titles under Swinney, including eight in the last 11 seasons, while he has guided Clemson to seven College Football Playoff appearances.

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

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney with his team during pregame on November 14, 2025 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)