College football insider Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported on Thursday afternoon that Christopher Vizzina “continues to be the favorite” in Clemson‘s quarterback race that is continuing until the final days of August.
With the Tigers heading to that other Death Valley for a Week 1 primetime clash with No. 11 LSU, the starting quarterback job at Clemson for 2026 hasn’t been nailed down quite yet. But Thursday’s report by Zenitz seems to indicate that it’s Vizzina’s job to lose as of now.
Vizzina was highly recruited in the Class of 2023 and has been in the program since then, waiting his turn and waiting for his chance to finally become the starting quarterback. He did get 1 start last season, which was the only start of his Clemson career. Vizzina shined in that 1 start, throwing for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns against SMU in a 35-24 home loss.
It was a loss during a lost season for the Tigers, but it was Vizzina’s rare chance to show what he could do from the jump, and he impressed. Now, with the LSU season-opening matchup looming on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in Baton Rouge, Vizzina reportedly has the inside track on finally winning that starting job after all these years at Clemson.
Vizzina has appeared in a total of 14 games during the first 3 years of his career at Clemson. He’s attempted a combined 105 passes and thrown for 596 yards, with 4 touchdown passes and 1 interception.
Right now, Vizzina is in the middle of a battle with true freshman Tait Reynolds that he appears to be winning, though nothing has been officially announced with that showdown at LSU taking place in just 9 days.
Clemson will be trying to surprise everyone this season, starting the 2026 campaign as an unranked team in the preseason. The Tigers still have their eyes on a College Football Playoff spot, and that pursuit will start in Week 1. Here is what the Kalshi market thinks of Clemson’s chances to shock college football and make the 12-team field:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
