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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Steve Reed The Associated Press
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is optimistic about his team's chances despite a disappointing 7-6 season last year, in which they failed to reach the ACC championship game for only the third time in 11 years under his leadership. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft after a rough season, and Swinney is turning to senior quarterback Christopher Vizzina, who completed 63.4% of his passes last year with 406 yards and four touchdowns. The team has concerns on defense, particularly at linebacker, where they are thin and lost two starting safeties to the transfer portal, but have made some key additions including running back Chris Johnson Jr. and defensive lineman Jerome Carter III. Swinney believes that this season was an "aberration" and that Clemson will return to its winning ways despite going unranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 2011.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 7-6 record in 2025, which was the team's worst finish since 2011. The Tigers were expected to compete for a national championship, but instead failed to reach the ACC championship game for only the third time under Swinney. Quarterback Cade Klubnik had a rough season and fell to the fourth round of the NFL draft. Swinney believes that last season was an anomaly and is confident that the team will return to its winning ways, despite being unranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2011. He attributes their past success, including 15 straight winning seasons, as a reason why he's optimistic about the future.
Written for “Clemson Football Struggles” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.40 for article 1232 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-24
Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — 2025 record: 7-6
Expectations
The Clemson Tigers entered last season with an experienced roster, a quarterback many viewed as a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick and a team ranked fourth in the nation in the preseason Top 25.
asserted
many → enter → Top
They were poised to compete for a national championship — and then things fell apart.
asserted
things → poise → championship
Clemson finished 7-6 and failed to reach the ACC championship game for only the third time in the past 11 years under coach Dabo Swinney.
asserted
Clemson → finish → Swinney
Quarterback Cade Klubnik fell to the fourth round of the NFL draft following a rough season.
asserted
Klubnik → fall → season
Swinney believes 2025 was an aberration, a blip — not a sign that the national powerhouse program is on the decline.
asserted
program → believe → decline
And he’s confident the Tigers will rediscover their winning ways despite going unranked in the AP Top 25 preseason poll for the first time since 2011.
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Tigers → ’ → 2011
“We stunk last year,” Swinney said matter-of-factly.
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Swinney → stink → ?
“We lost some games that we should have won. ...
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we → lose → that
It’s hard.
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It → ’ → ?
But we have had 15 straight winning seasons and I think there are only four of 138 (FBS) teams that can say that.
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that → have → that
While many top programs who have dipped into the portal to find their next quarterback, Swinney is turning the reigns of the offense over to senior Christopher Vizzina.
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Swinney → dip → Vizzina
Vizzina completed 63.4% of his passes in 2025 while throwing for 406 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
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Vizzina → complete → interception
Strengths at the skill positions
Vizzina will have plenty of reliable targets at his disposal.
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Vizzina → have → disposal
Although the Tigers lost Antonio Williams to the NFL draft, they still boast one of the most dynamic and explosive wide receiver groups in the country.
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they → lose → country
T.J. Moore had 52 catches last season for a team-high 837 yards, while and Bryant Wesco Jr. had 31 receptions and a team-high six TD catches.
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Jr. → have → receptions
Considered explosive players, both averaged more than 16 yards per catch.
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both → consider → catch
Tyler Brown, a former freshman All-American, is expected to see action in the slot.
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Brown → expect → slot
The Tigers are also high on four-star talents Gordon Sellars and Connor Salmin, who are pushing for reps.
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who → push → reps
Weaknesses includes questions on defense
Clemson’s finished 16th in the country nationally against the run in 2025, yielding just 105.5 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry.
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Clemson → include → carry
But this year has the potential to be a struggle as the team is thin at linebacker and lost both starting safeties to the transfer portal.
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team → have → portal
Swinney thought the Tigers had filled a major hole at linebacker after Luke Ferrelli transferred from Cal.
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Ferrelli → think → Cal
But he abruptly transferred to Ole Miss, prompting Swinney to publicly accuse coach the Rebels of tampering.
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he → transfer → tampering
Swinney said he forwarded evidence to the NCAA.
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he → say → NCAA
“If you tamper with my players, I’m going to turn you in.
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I → tamper → you
It’s just that simple,” Swinney said.
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Swinney → ’ → ?
“I’m not out to get anybody fired, but there has to be accountability and consequences for this type of behavior and total disregard for the rules.
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anybody → ’m → rules
