Where does Clemson stack up among Power 4 teams over the next two seasons?

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg released his college football Future Power Rankings, evaluating teams through the 2027 season. 

Rittenberg’s Future Power Rankings incorporate the following criteria: quarterback situation, offensive line/defensive line outlook, roster management, star power (All-Americans, national award contenders, all-conference contenders), and coaching staff.

With all that taken into account, Clemson dropped out of the top 10 and missed the top 20 of the Future Power Rankings, coming in at No. 22. That’s a 15-spot tumble from where the Tigers were, at No. 7, in ESPN’s previous Future Power Rankings a year ago ahead of the 2025 season.

“Despite a step backward at QB last fall and an offensive coordinator change, Clemson did not add a transfer and will instead ride with junior Christopher Vizzina, Cade Klubnik’s longtime backup, or Tait Reynolds, an incoming four-star recruit who excelled during spring practice. Whomever emerges this summer could lead the offense through 2027,” Rittenberg wrote. 

“The NFL draft affected both lines, as Clemson had its first offensive lineman go in the first round (Blake Miller) since 1960. The D-line lost mainstays Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, but brought back starting end Will Heldt, who had a team-high 7.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last fall. Other returnees included senior end Jahiem Lawson and tackles Vic Burley and Amare Adams. Clemson added Oklahoma tackle transfer Markus Strong, who can play through 2027. Miller and two other offensive line starters departed, and Clemson didn’t add transfers there, electing to lean on senior interior players Harris Sewell and Collin Sadler. Clemson will be young at tackle with Brayden Jacobs, Easton Ware and others, and has Elyjah Thurmon back after an injury-affected 2025.”

After signing three players from the NCAA transfer portal last offseason, Clemson and head coach Dabo Swinney took a deeper dive into the transfer portal this year, adding double-digit players via the portal in the 2026 cycle.

Clemson had several holes on the back end of the defense that needed to be filled, and over the first few days of the portal window, the Tigers were extremely active in filling those holes, adding several key pieces to the secondary fairly quickly. Over the first week of the portal window, the Tigers were also active in reloading up front, landing multiple key pieces expected to make immediate impacts along the defensive line. 

Clemson picked up one major portal player on the offensive side of the ball as well — SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr., arguably the fastest running back in the country.

Meanwhile, Clemson signed a top-20 high school recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, according to ESPN’s rankings.

“Despite losing nine NFL draft picks from an underperforming team, Clemson didn’t dive fully into the portal, instead taking a selective approach with a defense-oriented group,” Rittenberg wrote. “The team added Strong and Colorado edge London Merritt up front and several defensive backs, including cornerback Elliot Washington II, who played for defensive coordinator Tom Allen at Penn State in 2024. Clemson also picked up running back Chris Johnson Jr. from SMU. The Tigers retained Heldt and standout junior linebacker Sammy Brown on defense, as well as wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr., and promising young running back Gideon Davidson. Clemson signed the nation’s No. 19 recruiting class, which featured Reynolds and was heavy on offensive linemen and receivers. The Tigers have signed 33 blue-chip high school recruits since 2024, but they did not add a blue-chip transfer this year.

“Brown (first team) and Heldt (third team) both earned All-ACC recognition in 2025 and will anchor the defense this fall. Moore and Wesco are both experienced playmakers who averaged a combined 16.6 yards per reception in 2025. Washington stood out in spring practice and could rise into the all-league picture, along with some of the incoming freshmen.”

As for Clemson’s coaching staff, the biggest move came when Swinney hired Chad Morris to return to Tigertown to run the offense in 2026, replacing Garrett Riley, who was fired in December following three seasons as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. 

“Coach Dabo Swinney went a familiar route to revive the offense, bringing back Chad Morris as offensive coordinator,” Rittenberg wrote. “Morris, Clemson’s OC from 2011 to 2014 under Swinney, last served in the role for Auburn in 2020. Allen is back to oversee the defense, as Swinney kept most of the staff together.”

Notre Dame is No. 1 in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, with Ohio State, Texas, Oregon and Georgia rounding out the top five.

Miami is the highest-ranked ACC team at No. 6. Along with Miami and Clemson, the other ACC teams in the top 25 are SMU (No. 19) and Louisville (No. 23).

Clemson will open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., ABC) on the road against LSU, which is No. 8 in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings.