Where Clemson’s starting quarterback ranks among all Power 4 QBs for 2026

· Yahoo Sports

National expectations for Christopher Vizzina aren’t especially high heading into his first season as Clemson’s starting quarterback.

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Sports Illustrated recently ranked every projected Power 4 starting quarterback entering the 2026 season, placing Vizzina at No. 50 overall. He also checked in as the No. 11 quarterback in the ACC, putting him in the bottom half of the conference despite taking over one of college football’s premier programs.

It’s not hard to understand why there’s some skepticism. Vizzina has thrown only 71 passes during his Clemson career after spending the past two seasons behind Cade Klubnik. While the former four-star recruit has waited his turn, he’ll now be asked to replace one of the school’s most productive quarterbacks in recent memory and immediately lead the Tigers into a season-opening trip to LSU.

Sports Illustrated pointed to Vizzina’s limited résumé but also noted that his only career start offered some encouraging signs.

“Clemson is moving past the never-fully-realized Cade Klubnik era by turning to the guy who backed him up for the past two years. It would seem to be a very typical move by Dabo Swinney to favor continuity and familiarity rather than dip into the portal, but it could also be a testament that Vizzina is the best option for the Tigers. In his sole start against SMU, Vizzina was far from the issue, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns in a 35–24 loss. If he’s capable of producing performances like that more regularly, Clemson may be able to right the ship after a few down years.”

Outside of that SMU game, there isn’t much tape for voters or analysts to evaluate. Vizzina finished 2025 completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 406 yards with four touchdowns, one interception and a 127.2 passer rating, but now he’ll have an entire season to show whether that ranking was too low.

He won’t have to wait long for a chance to make a statement. Clemson opens the year in Death Valley against LSU before ACC play begins, and five quarterbacks ranked ahead of Vizzina by Sports Illustrated are on the Tigers’ regular-season schedule.

This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Where Clemson’s starting quarterback ranks among all Power 4 QBs for 2026

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