Clemson Tigers

0–0 · 0–0 ACC

Way too early

WEEK 1 · 2026

16%

ACC title game

Win the ACC

Make the playoff

<1%

First-round bye

avg seed 9.0

Way-too-early read: preseason ratings, while rosters are still settling. The week-1 job: beat LSU.

If Clemson wins out: 49% to win the ACC, 68% to make the playoff.

The Saturday rundown

ranked by what moves Clemson's path

Your game

…

… · ABC

Clemson at LSU

Your game. Beat LSU and your playoff odds are 12%; lose and they drop to 7%.

LSU 63%

Just win

Worth a glancesmaller, but real

…

… · ESPN

Miami at Stanford

ACC race: Miami losing helps your spot in the standings; you still play Miami in week 5.

Miami 88%

Root for Stanford+5.5 pp title-game odds

…

… · ESPN

SMU at Florida State

ACC race: SMU losing helps your spot in the standings; Florida State visits your schedule in week 9 — keep them ranked.

SMU 64%

Root for Florida State+3.6 pp title-game odds

46 more games that don't move your needle

Liberty at James Madison

NC State at Virginia · ESPN

Boston College at Cincinnati

Hawai'i at Stanford

Memphis at UNLV

San José State at USC

New Mexico State at Florida State

North Carolina at TCU · ESPN

Akron at Wake Forest

Massachusetts at Rutgers

Colorado at Georgia Tech · ESPN

Toledo at Michigan State

Fresno State at USC

San José State at Eastern Michigan

Florida Atlantic at Florida

UL Monroe at Mississippi State

UTEP at Oklahoma

Kent State at South Carolina

Texas State at Texas

Missouri State at Texas A&M

Oklahoma State at Tulsa

Oregon State at Houston

Coastal Carolina at West Virginia

Miami (OH) at Pittsburgh

Tulane at Duke

UCLA at California

UAB at Illinois

North Texas at Indiana

Northern Illinois at Iowa

Western Michigan at Michigan

Ohio at Nebraska

Ball State at Ohio State

Boise State at Oregon

Marshall at Penn State

Washington State at Washington

Wyoming at Colorado State

Arkansas State at Memphis

Florida International at South Florida

Western Kentucky at Nevada

UNLV at Hawai'i

Central Michigan at New Mexico

Sam Houston at Troy

East Carolina at Alabama · ABC

Baylor at Auburn · ABC

Louisville at Ole Miss · ABC

Notre Dame at Wisconsin

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 1, with preseason ratings projected from last season: way too early, enjoy responsibly. How the model works.