What do you expect Clemson's final regular-season record to be and why and what's your score prediction for this game?
Entering the season, I expected Clemson to finish 9-3 with losses to LSU, Miami and Cal. The Tigers are still on track to fulfill those losses so far. However, I think the way Clemson has performed this season leads me to believe they’ll drop at least one more game in 2026. I now have Clemson finishing 8-4.
For Friday’s game, I predict Cal beats Clemson 31-23. The travel situation for the Tigers is tough, and they’ve already been sluggish to start games this season. Clemson’s defense is also shorthanded with a handful of injuries. The Tigers make it a close-ish game in the second half but Cal ultimately pulls away.
If Clemson is to improve their record by at least a couple games, what will have to happen? And if the record is similar, what do you think will have gone wrong?
If Clemson finishes better than I predict, it’ll be because of freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds. He’s shown flashes to suggest Clemson’s ceiling is higher with Reynolds under center over senior QB Christopher Vizzina, but Reynolds is still prone to freshman mistakes. If he learns from those quicker than I anticipate, Clemson can still finish 9-3 and have some hope going into 2027.
If Clemson finishes worse than 8-4, it’s because the things I do expect to improve slightly over the season stay the same. The Tigers would have to continue struggling on both lines of scrimmage and keep up with the slow starts to games. If I had to pick which one is more likely, I’d choose Clemson to underperform my predicted record. The floor is 5-7.
What are some of the areas where the offense has improved over last season, what are some of the question marks and who are some of the most impactful players?
Clemson has a great receiving corps headlined by Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore. Tyler Brown and Juju Preston have seemingly taken a step forward this season. There’s also a few freshman wideouts that add depth. Starting running back Gideon Davidson took a big step forward last week vs. North Carolina with his first 100-plus yard game. Backup RB and SMU transfer Chris Johnson Jr. has been a disappointment.
The biggest question mark on offense is the offensive line. Clemson’s front five are physically gifted but generally inexperienced. Guys like left tackle Brayden Jacobs have the look of future pro linemen, but the missed assignments and poor technique have been a killer this season.
What are some of the ways the defense has improved over last year, what are some of the question marks and who are some of the most impactful players?
The biggest improvements for Clemson’s defense are in its secondary. The Tigers, who are normally averse to using the transfer portal, went out and got a handful of defensive backs from other schools to bolster a group that looked lost at times last season. The investment has paid off so far with Jerome Carter III and Elliott Washington II. That group is led by Ashton Hampton, a big, physical corner who projects as future first-round NFL prospect.
Clemson’s edge rushers are pretty deep with Will Heldt, Jahiem Lawson and London Merritt all making contributions.
The biggest question mark on defense, and maybe the entire roster, is the interior defensive line. Clemson is down four defensive tackles due to injuries in 2026 and the remaining bunch haven’t filled the gaps very well. Expect JUCO transfer Andy Burburija, Amare Adams, Champ Thompson and Vic Burley to the main four rotating on the line Friday. Cal and RB Adam Mohammed have a chance to dominate the ground game against Clemson and should run the ball as much as they can.
What are your impressions of Cal in 2026? What are you expecting to see from them after the disappointing loss to UCLA and underwhelming win at Syracuse?
I like Cal (and the Calgorithm). Tosh Lupoi reminds me of Dabo Swinney, except he’s willing to use the portal and used it well this offseason. Ian Strong and Chase Hendricks will be a matchup problem for Clemson defensive backs Misun “Tink” Kelley and Ronan Hanafin, who will slot in a nickel in place of injured starter Corian Gipson. Kingston Lopa is a ballhawk and could take advantage of Reynolds’ inexperience and shaky decision-making.
The obvious star is Jaron Keave-Sagapolutele. His arm talent is ridiculous. Lefty QBs are kind of like left-handed batters in baseball: They’re just more fun to watch for some reason. Sagapolutele will give Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor a run for his money in the race to be the first QB off the board in the 2028 NFL draft.
The biggest question mark I see is Cal’s run defense, ranked 110th in the nation and 126th in tackles for loss. I’m curious to see if Cal can make the most of its talented QB this season and next. Sagapolutele seems loyal enough to stick around another season.
