Clemson Could be Major Sleeper Team, Which Sounds Really Weird

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There was a time when the Clemson Tigers ruled college football, or at least shared the throne with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Between 2015 and 2019, Clemson made four National Championship Games and won a pair of titles. Dabo Swinney appeared to be headed toward GOAT status, and the Tigers were producing elite talent like nobody's business.

Since then, however, things have changed significantly in South Carolina.

Clemson has not won a playoff game since January 2021, and last season, the Tigers went just 7-6 and lost to a battered Penn State squad in the Pinstripe Bowl.

It represented Clemson's worst season since Swinney's second full year as head coach back in 2010, and it resulted in a victory lap for detractors like Paul Finebaum.

Heading into 2026, the Tigers aren't really on anyone's radar, and they certainly aren't viewed as national championship contenders. I doubt anyone will even have them tabbed as a potential College Football Playoff team.

But allow me to cast my ballot for Clemson at least being much better than a year ago.

Am I saying that the Tigers will be playing football in January? Not necessarily, but I think Swinney's club has a whole lot of talent that is flying under the radar.

T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco comprise one of the most underrated wide receiver duos in the country, and Tyler Brown as well as the 6-foot-5 Tristan Smith are great depth pieces. Plus, Clemson has brought in three four-star freshmen in Naeem Burroughs, Gordon Sellars and Connor Salmin, with Burroughs in particular representing a player to watch.

The Tigers lost running back Adam Randall to the NFL Draft, but Gideon Davidson will be back to take the reins as the featured rusher. Intriguing transfer addition Chris Johnson Jr. will get his fair of touches, as well, and it actually wouldn't shock me to see more of an even split as we get deeper into the campaign.

Defensively, Clemson lost big names like Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, Avieon Terrell and Wade Woodaz to the draft, plus multiple players to the portal. But it's hard to ignore Ashton Hampton, Sammy Brown and Will Heldt, all of whom could be first-round picks next April.

There are questions along the offensive line, especially after the departure of Blake Miller. And I understand there is uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position now that Cade Klubnik is in the NFL. But Swinney seems to have faith in Christopher Vizzina, and he did look solid in his lone start against SMU last season.

It's also important to note that Clemson plays in a rather tame ACC, and it really only has two truly difficult games on its schedule: its season opener against LSU, and a meeting with Miami (at home) in early October.

Otherwise, the Tigers may very well be considered the favorites in each of their other 10 games. Is a 10-2 season possible for Clemson? Perhaps.

Stay tuned and find out.

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