Where CBS ranks projected Clemson football starter among Power 4 QBs

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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.

CBS Sports' Brad Crawford said of Vizzina:

"Dabo Swinney chose not to go to the portal for a quarterback, so Vizzina it is for the Tigers. Behind Cade Klubnik each of the past two seasons, Vizzina did see extended action last fall during a loss to SMU when he threw for 317 yards and three scores. If Clemson gets that level of play out of Vizzina, the Tigers will be a ACC threat throughout the season."

Vizzina appeared in five games last season, throwing for 406 yards and four touchdowns to one interception. He took over for an injured Klubnik late in the third quarter of the Tigers' 41-10 blowout win over Boston College on Oct. 11 in Chestnut Hill but attempted only three passes.

Aside from his lone start against SMU, Vizzina saw his most playing time in last season's 45-10 win over Furman on Senior Day in Death Valley. He completed nine of his 15 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Among projected ACC starters, Vizzina ranked ninth out of the 17 quarterbacks. The Miami Hurricanes' Darian Mensah led the way for ACC starters and was No. 5 nationally. Overall, Dante Moore of Oregon topped CBS Sports' QB rankings at No. 1, followed by Julian Sayin of Ohio State at No. 2.

Clemson football schedule 2026

  • Sept. 5: at LSU
  • Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern
  • Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina
  • Sept. 25: at California
  • Oct. 3: vs. Miami
  • Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern
  • Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech
  • Oct. 31: at Florida State
  • Nov. 6 or 7: at Syracuse
  • Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech
  • Nov. 21: at Duke
  • Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson football QB Chris Vizzina's Power 4 ranking from CBS Sports

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