ESPN has released its initial Football Power Index (FPI), and Clemson is slotted among the Top 20 teams in the nation.

Per ESPN, the FPI is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. 

The Tigers come in at No. 19 with a 13.4 rating and a projected win-loss record of 8.1-4.1. Dabo Swinney’s team was at No. 31 in the FPI last year after beginning the season at No. 11.

The FPI gives Clemson a 21.1% chance of making the College Football Playoff, which is the 18th-highest percentage in the index.

The Tigers are at No. 35 in strength of schedule, are given just a 9.5% chance of winning the ACC Championship and just a 1.9% chance of making an appearance in the national title game.

Clemson is set to face two teams currently in the Top 10 of the FPI. LSU sits at No. 9, with Miami at No. 7. The rival Gamecocks come in at No. 23, while SMU is No. 24.

The Tigers are looking to bounce back from an overly disappointing 7-6 season in 2025, which culminated in a disheartening 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.