Clemson Football to Open 2026 Season at LSU; Slate Features Belichick, Miami

Clemson will open its 2026 football season in the “Death Valley” of the bayou, facing LSU at Tiger Stadium on Sept. 5, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Monday.

The 12-game schedule, unveiled on ACC Network and ESPN2, features a seven-game home slate highlighted by a visit from Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels and a matchup against 2025 national runner-up Miami.

The season opener marks Clemson’s first trip to Baton Rouge and its first time opening at an SEC venue since the 2016 national championship season. It also sets up a potential “revenge” game following Clemson’s loss to LSU in 2025.

Clemson’s home debut at Memorial Stadium is set for Sept. 12 against Georgia Southern. The Tigers will then open conference play on Sept. 19 against North Carolina. The matchup features a rare meeting between two-time national champion Dabo Swinney and Belichick, the multi-time Super Bowl winner.

History will be made on Sept. 25 when Clemson travels to face Cal, marking the program’s first-ever conference game played on the West Coast.

Other highlights of the 2026 schedule include:

Oct. 3 vs. Miami: A high-stakes clash against last year’s College Football Playoff runner-up.
Oct. 24 vs. Virginia Tech: The Hokies make their first trip to Clemson since 2012, led by first-year coach James Franklin.
Oct. 31 at Florida State: A Halloween road test where Clemson will seek its fifth consecutive win in Tallahassee.
Nov. 28 vs. South Carolina: The annual Palmetto Bowl returns to Clemson to close out the regular season.

The schedule remains a rigorous one, marking the 25th consecutive year Clemson has played at least 10 power conference opponents. The Tigers enter the season as one of only four programs nationally to hold a winning record against all four power conferences since 2009.

Ticket applications for IPTAY donors must be completed by Feb. 15. The team’s annual Spring Game is scheduled for March 28 at 1 p.m.