Clemson football is firmly back among college football’s top contenders, climbing to No. 7 in ESPN’s College Football Future Power Rankings through 2026 — up from No. 12 last year. Much of that optimism centers on quarterback Cade Klubnik,

Unsurprisingly, the five teams in front of Clemson are Big Ten and SEC schools. Penn State chimes in at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame (the only non-SEC or Big Ten school in the top 5), Texas, Alabama, and the reigning national champions, Ohio State. The Tigers are the highest-ranked ACC team by a mile, with Miami coming at No. 14.