Here we are, just barely past a quarter of the way through the 2026 season.

At this point, Clemson is right where we thought it would be.

And where is that exactly?

The Tigers are 3-1 through the first four games of the year. Which, honestly, is where a lot of us thought they would be heading into next week’s Miami game.

But how did Clemson got here – that might be a little different than what we thought.

I think it is safe to say that no one saw the Tigers opening the season with a 41-point loss at LSU. It was unimaginable.

Let’s be honest. After Clemson’s 51-10 loss to LSU, no one thought they would be where they are following Friday night’s 24-10 victory at Cal.

Heck, no one at halftime of the North Carolina game thought the Tigers would be where they are at the moment. Like I said, Clemson is 3-1 and 2-0 in the ACC.

So, what happens next?

That is the point. We do not know.

What we do know is that this Clemson team, through four games, has shown a lot of resiliency. There are not many teams in the country that could recover from such a disappointing performance from an opening game that had so many watching.

There are not many teams that would keep fighting after looking so bad for two-plus quarters against Georgia Southern the following week. There are not many teams after falling behind by two touchdowns against North Carolina, would fight back and find a way to win.

And there are not many teams that will go on the road, suffer a devasting turnover that turned directly into points, yet fight back, again, and keep one of the ACC’s top quarterbacks and passing attacks out of the end zone and well below their season average.

Yet here they are. The Clemson Tigers did not get here the conventional way, but somehow, they made it here.

They made it here by playing staunch defense. Since giving up 51 points and more than 600 yards to LSU, the Tigers have allowed 37 points in the last three games.

In those three games, Clemson’s opponents are averaging just 12.3 points and 282 yards per game.

The Tigers made it here by being sound in special teams. On Friday night, Bryant Wesco took a punt 65 yards in what turned out to be the game-winning TD. Though he missed a kick on Friday night, his first of the season, kicker Nolan Hauser made his first 10 field goals of the season, including another one against the Bears.

The punt and coverage teams have been excellent, so has the kick return team, as well. In last week’s win over UNC, Chris Johnson, Jr., had a big return that jumped started the game-winning TD drive.

Clemson made it here by leaning on a running game that went for 150 yards in Week 2, to 186 yards in Week 3 and 255 yards in Week 4.

This is a Clemson team, despite playing a freshman quarterback and a few freshmen on the offensive line, is finding a way to get it done.

The Tigers may not look perfect. They may not look smooth, but in the last three weeks they have done what they needed to do to win three straight games.

Where do they go from here? I guess we are all going to find out, but right now, they are where we thought they would be.

–photo courtesy of Clemson Athletic communications