Where Clemson landed in Athlon Sports preseason ACC Power Rankings
Clemson is no longer at the tippy top of the preseason rankings for the ACC.
Spring ball is here, and Clemson football is heading into it with something the program hasn’t dealt with in a long time — real questions about where it stands in the conference. After finishing 7-6 in 2025, the Tigers open 2026 ranked No. 4 in Athlon Sports’ ACC spring power rankings .
It’s a noticeable shift for a program that had grown used to sitting at or near the top, and it reflects both last season’s struggles and the uncertainty surrounding what comes next. “Last year’s 7-6 season was a major disappointment,” Steven Lassan wrote. “Can coach Dabo Swinney turn things around in ‘26?
” Clemson didn’t stand pat after that step back. Changes were made across the staff, highlighted by bringing Chad Morris back to run the offense, and the roster saw an influx of 10 transfer additions. As Lassan noted, “This spring is the first window into how this team has turned the page from last season.
” Clemson isn’t alone in trying to reload, but others at the top of the league bring more momentum. Miami grabbed the No. 1 spot after a run to the national title game and an aggressive offseason.