Clemson’s Christopher Vizzina lands low in CBS Sport's QB rankings

Clemson football is heading into a new era at quarterback in 2026, and it will look different after several seasons of stability under Cade Klubnik. With Klubnik moving on after more than three years as the starter, the offense now belongs to Christopher Vizzina. He’s been waiting for this opportunity, spending the last two seasons as the primary backup and stepping in once last year when Clemson needed him.

That outing offered a glimpse of what he can do. In extended action against SMU, Vizzina threw for over 300 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. If that version shows up consistently, Clemson’s offense may not take much of a step back.

There’s also an interesting shift in recruiting background. Vizzina wasn’t labeled as a five-star prospect coming out of high school, making him the first Clemson quarterback in that position to open a season as QB1 since Kelly Bryant in 2018. Even so, he was still viewed as one of the better quarterbacks in his class and arrived with solid expectations.

Nationally, Vizzina is entering the season somewhat under the radar. He landed in the mid-40s in CBS Sports recent set of Power 4 quarterback rankings and sits outside the top tier in the ACC. That could change quickly depending on how he performs early.