CLEMSON — The 2025-’26 athletic year was not the kind of year the Clemson Athletic Department envisioned at this time last year.

The football team was coming off an ACC Championship and another College Football Playoff appearance from 2024, and expectations were high in ’25. The baseball program hosted another NCAA Regional last spring, while softball was 60 feet from going to the Women’s College World Series.

Men’s basketball was in the Big Dance for a second straight year, while Gymnastics and Lacrosse were growing in popularity, and winning at the same time. Overall, Clemson won three ACC Championships – football, softball and men’s soccer.

Unfortunately, for Clemson it was unable to repeat as league champions in those three sports this year.

The Clemson Football team had its worse season in 15 years, despite leading the country in returning players. The Tigers went 7-6 overall and lost to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl and had its first losing season at Death Valley since 1998.

Men’s soccer did make it to the NCAA Tournament but was upset in the opening round. The softball team made it back to the NCAA Tournament for a sixth consecutive year, but they failed to host a regional and lost to Georgia in the finals of the Athens Regional.

Despite starting the season 16-1 overall, Clemson baseball had its worse season in ACC play since 1957 and did not make the NCAA Tournament.

The men’s basketball team participated in the NCAA Tournament for a third straight year – just the third time that has happened in school history. However, the Tigers were knocked out of the tournament in the first round for a second straight season.

The women’s basketball team, under second-year coach Shawn Poppie, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 and won 21 games – the most wins for the program in a single season since the days of Jim Davis. Unfortunately, the women were robbed of an opportunity to play South Carolina in the second round when Mia Moore’s game-winner at the end of regulation was overturned, and Southern Cal went on to win in overtime.

The women’s Lacrosse team had its best season, as they finished third in the ACC. However, they got a bad draw in the NCAA Tournament and had to play defending national champion North Carolina in the second round. It was the third time the Tigers had to play the Tar Heels in 2026 and the second straight year in the tournament.

The Gymnastics team also had their best season, as they won the program’s first ACC Championship. They ultimately advanced to the regional finals in the NCAA Tournament and just fell short of advancing to nationals.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, as both programs continue to rise back to their roots as one-time ACC powers.

Perhaps Clemson’s best program this past year was the women’s track & field program, which won both the indoor and outdoor ACC Championships.

Though it was not a banner year for Clemson Athletics, it once again dominated its rival South Carolina in the big three sports, as well as won the Palmetto Series. The Tigers beat the Gamecocks in football, men’s basketball and baseball this season, while also garnering wins in men’s soccer, men’s tennis and volleyball.

Overall, Clemson was 9-5-1 in head-to-head matchups against the Gamecocks in 11 sports. South Carolina’s two wins came in women’s basketball and women’s tennis. No points were rewarded for women’s soccer as the game ended in a tie, while the softball teams split their season series.

Wednesday turns over the athletic calendar for Clemson Athletics. What is in store for the Tigers in 2026-’27, I guess we will find out soon enough.