CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson Tigers made their way to Charlotte, North Carolina in mid-July for the annual ACC Media Days to officially kickoff the 2026 football season. Head coach Dabo Swinney was accompanied by junior linebacker Sammy Brown, senior defensive end Will Heldt and senior tight end Olsen Patt-Henry at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown from July 15-17 to bring in the new season.
Clemson had one of the best teams on paper heading into last season and the national media picked them as one of the favorites to win it all in 2025, but things quickly fell off the rails. The Tigers got off to a 1-3 start suffering losses from LSU, Georgia Tech and Syracuse before finishing the season with a 7-6 overall record and 4-4 conference record.
This season, the Tigers are picked to finish fourth in the ACC and the national media has picked them to not be one of the teams to make the College Football Playoffs.
Their were rumors that Swinney could be replace after last season, but he is indeed back for his 19th season in the orange and white. The ole’ ball coach is on a mission to prove his doubters wrong this season that he can win big in this new modern era of college football.
“We’re gonna win more games,” said Swinney with a laugh to WSPA 7 news. “We’ve been to the top many times around here, and we’re gonna take Clemson back to the top…that’s gonna happen. Whether it happens this year, I don’t know.”
“We’re young and unproven, but we’re a fast team… we’re a faster team, let me say it that way, than we were last year at every position,” said Swinney.
“Just get the arrow pointed back where it needs to be,” said Swinney. “I don’t know if we’ll get all the way to the top of the mountain, but we need to get it pointing back in that direction.”
Clemson football also made soem huge changes this offseason that started with the offensive coordinator. Chad Morris is returning back to the program after being away for over a decade. Morris was with the Tigers from 2011-14 and helped lay the early foundation to their dynasty from 2015-20. The Tigers played in four national title games, made the College Football Playoffs every season during that span and won two national titles.
“He wasn’t a part of our national championships physically, but he was a part of it because he helped us lay a great foundation in [20]11,12,13,14 I would love to see Chad, you know, have the opportunity to experience that at the highest level, at some point,” Swinney said.
Another big question for the program will be the quarterback position. Everything points towards redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina as the starter in the season opener against LSU in Baton Rouge, La. on Sept. 5th, which will be a nationally televised game. Incoming three-star freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds has been very impressive throughout spring and summer workouts.
“Tait, he can put his eyes on CV, alright, and he can go beat him out. Or, CV can feel the heat from somebody else, and so either way we’re going to get better,” Swinney said.
The veteran players have also enjoyed the competition at the quarterback position and believes that either guy can get the job done for the Tigers this season.
“There’s competition in my room, there’s competition in the quarterback room, the receiver room, the d-end room, and I think no one is entitled to start, no one is entitled to do anything, and I feel like coach Swinney is over emphasized he will play the best guy, so I think it’s been important for everybody,” Patt-Henry said.
Vizzina appeared in six games for Clemson in 2025 and started one game. Despite the 35-24 loss against SMU in his only start last season, he played well and looked like he was the next man up to take over as QB1. He went 29-of-42 throwing for 317 passing yards and three passing touchdowns.
“I’ve been with CV since last January,” Heldt said. “I’ve seen him work his tail off. He’s ready for the opportunity. He played well when he got in last season, and he’s got the edge right now.”
There will also be position battles on the defensive side of the ball as well for the Tigers after they underperformed last season.
“Last year, a little bit of a down year, wasn’t up to our standard, our expectations that we hold for ourselves, but yeah, I think that sense of urgency has been great for us in all aspects, from the coaching staff, to the top down, to the players,” Heldt said.
The Tigers are determined to turn things around this season starting with their head coach all the way down to their incoming freshman and new players acquired in the transfer portal. They will begin fall camp on August 4 and their 2026 campaign starts on Sept. 5th at the ‘other’ Death Valley.