Where Clemson football ranks in CBS Sports' post-spring top 25

With the spring practice period over in college football, national outlets are taking another look at where teams land in their way-too-early rankings for the 2026 season, including the Clemson Tigers.

In CBS Sports' new post-spring top 25 rankings, Clemson is ranked No. 22. The Tigers are one spot below the Washington Huskies and one spot ahead of the Florida Gators and first-year coach Jon Sumrall.

Clemson was previously unranked in veteran college football reporter and analyst Brandon Marcello's way-too-early top 25 the day after the College Football Playoff national championship in January.

It probably doesn't inspire a lot of confidence that Marcello likens the Tigers' ranking at No. 22 as little more than a credit to Dabo Swinney:

"This ranking is more a credit to Dabo Swinney's consistency rather than the talent on board. What's old is new again at Clemson with Swinney sticking to what's familiar rather than stretching his boundaries. Christopher Vizzina steps in as the starting quarterback with coordinator Chad Morris returning after a decade away from Clemson. The defense won the spring game, with the first-teamers combining for nine sacks, but only two offensive starters were on the field. Tom Allen is calling plays for a second year."

ESPN names multiple Clemson players among best draft picks of 2026

📸 Ken Ruinard, Gannett-USA TODAY NETWORK https://t.co/97Ut5q9KKapic.twitter.com/kebW2T7ZbE

— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) April 30, 2026

Vizzina has started one game for Clemson, last October in the Tigers' 35-24 loss to SMU at Memorial Stadium. He completed 29 of 42 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns.

Vizzina will be a redshirt junior in 2026 and has thrown 105 career passes for 596 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. A four-star recruit out of Briarwood Christian in Birmingham in the class of 2023, Vizzina chose the Tigers over Auburn, Arkansas and others.

Clemson placed No. 24 in USA TODAY Sports' post-spring outlook. The Tigers are unranked in ESPN's updated way-too-early rankings for 2026.

Ranking three best ACC football teams after spring practice 2026

The ACC had just three teams in CBS Sports' top 25 post-spring rankings, tied with the Big 12 for the fewest of the Power Four conferences. The SEC led the way with 10 teams while the Big Ten was second with eight teams.

Here's a look at which ACC teams were ranked, and where.

• Miami Hurricanes (No. 7 overall)
• Clemson Tigers (No. 22 overall)
• SMU Mustangs (No. 25 overall)

Clemson football schedule 2026

Clemson opens the 2026 season against LSU on Sept. 5 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Here's a full look at the Tigers' 2026 regular-season schedule. Kickoff times and TV channel designations have not been announced.

• 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 makes CBS Sports' post-spring top 25 rankings