CBS Sports Downgrades Clemson in ACC Outlook
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A seven-person CBS Sports panel excludes the Tigers from the top three of their conference predictions, signaling a shift in the program's perceived elite status.
As Sports Illustrated first reported, CBS Sports has signaled a shift in the perceived standing of the Clemson Tigers, with a seven-person analyst panel failing to place head coach Dabo Swinney’s program inside the top three of their ACC predictions for 2026.
While the panel reached a consensus placing Miami at the top following its national championship appearance, Clemson's standing varied. Three analysts ranked the Tigers fourth, while analyst John Talty placed them sixth. The consensus indicated that programs such as Louisville and SMU are now viewed as superior to Clemson, with NC State and Cal also appearing ahead of the Tigers on some leaderboards, Sports Illustrated reports.
Analysts Tom Fornelli and John Talty specifically identified Clemson as the most overrated program in the conference. Fornelli argued that Clemson is a "powerhouse of the past," suggesting the program has lost its elite status when considering the modern era of college football defined by open NIL and the transfer portal, per Sports Illustrated.
Facing a difficult slate that includes a home game against Miami on Oct. 3 and an away game at Cal, the Tigers are widely viewed as unlikely to reach a 10-win season. To shift this narrative, Swinney has brought back former offensive coordinator Chad Morris, though Sports Illustrated notes that player buy-in will be essential for the program to regain national respect.