Where CBS ranks projected Clemson football starter among Power 4 QBs
Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers will be a threat in the ACC if it gets this type of production from Christopher Vizzina at QB in 2026, CBS Sports says.
Clemson football will be ushering in a first-year starter at quarterback for the first time in three years this fall when the Tigers open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against LSU in Baton Rouge. Redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina, a former four-star recruit in the class of 2023 out of Briarwood Christian in Birmingham, is the frontrunner to start Week 1 with Cade Klubnik off to the NFL.
Vizzina made his first start last year in the Tigers' 35-24 loss to the SMU Mustangs on Oct. 18 at Memorial Stadium. He completed 29 of his 42 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
On the whole, it wasn't a bad performance by a first-time starter. Clemson will need Vizzina to repeat that type of performance, though, if it hopes to bounce back from a terribly disappointing 2025 campaign and contend for an ACC championship this fall. On Wednesday, CBS Sports unveiled its rankings for all 68 projected Power Four starting quarterbacks in 2026.
Vizzina ranked No. 44 and was sandwiched between two other projected ACC starters. He's one spot below Louisville's Lincoln Kienholz, an Ohio State Buckeyes transfer, and one spot ahead of former Missouri Tigers QB Beau Pribula, now at Virginia.