Dabo Swinney enters his 18th season at Clemson after a 7-6 overall and 4-4 ACC campaign in 2025, and the Tigers enter 2026 with major offensive turnover and a steadier defensive base. With Chad Morris taking over as coordinator, Tait Reynolds has been named the starting quarterback after Cade Klubnik leaves for the NFL. Clemson must replace leading rusher Adam Randall following his departure for the NFL, while Gideon Davidson returns and SMU transfer Chris Johnson joins the backfield. At receiver, Clemson must replace Antonio Williams but returns six of its top eight receiving producers from last season, including T.J. Moore, Bryant Wesco, Tyler Brown, Cole Turner, and tight end Christian Bentancur. Up front, the offensive line returns Harris Sewell and Collin Sadler, each making nine starts last season, while Brayden Jacobs also returns after making four starts.

Tom Allen enters his second season as defensive coordinator. Clemson returns five of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including three of its top five, giving the defense a steadier base. Leading tackler Sammy Brown returns after recording 107 tackles and five sacks in 2025, and linebacker Jeremiah Alexander also returns. Will Heldt returns at defensive end, and Ronan Hanafin and Ashton Hampton bring experience to the secondary. Penn State transfer Elliot Washington II, Old Dominion transfer Jerome Carter, and Southern Miss transfer Corey Myrick also join the secondary. Update (Oct. 5): CB Corian Gipson will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after aggravating a knee injury against Miami. Gipson will undergo surgery to repair his meniscus.

Rich Bisaccia takes over as special teams coordinator after previously coaching with the Green Bay Packers. Nolan Hauser returns at placekicker, while Jack Smith returns at punter. Bryant Wesco returns with punt-return experience, while Clemson will feature a new primary kickoff returner after Adam Randall’s departure. Tyler Brown and Gideon Davidson also return with return-game experience. With a new offensive coordinator, a new starting quarterback, and five of its top eleven tacklers back on defense, Clemson enters 2026 with significant offensive turnover and a steadier defensive base.