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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is making a quarterback change ahead of the Tigers’ Week 3 ACC opener against North Carolina following two questionable offensive performances to begin the season.
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However, Swinney denied Pete Thamel’s report that Christopher Vizzina is out with an elbow injury and would be out week-to-week. The Tigers head coach confirmed the quarterback is available to face North Carolina, although he’d do so in a backup role on Saturday.
“Injury-wise, we came out pretty good,” Swinney said. “Christopher Vizzina should be able to play but will be in a backup role. He had a little bit of a left arm injury. He will go in this week as the backup, and we’ll go from there.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says the decision to start freshman QB Tait Reynolds over Christopher Vizzina against UNC is exclusively based on those two QBs’ body of work and performance through two games — the decision to start Reynolds wasn’t impacted by Vizzina injury
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 13, 2026
In moving Vizzina down the depth chart, Swinney named freshman Tait Reynolds the starter for the game against North Carolina.
“Just how they played, based on opportunity and mistakes and just body of work, Tait has earned the opportunity to start,” Swinney said.
The decision followed Reynolds’ extended appearance against Georgia Southern, when he entered the game during the second quarter and completed 16 of 27 passes for 178 yards while adding 38 rushing yards.
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Reynolds has completed 20 of 33 passes for 200 yards through two games without throwing a touchdown or interception. Vizzina, meanwhile, has completed 14 of 23 attempts for 102 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The quarterback change comes after Clemson’s offense struggled through its opening two games, including a 51-10 loss at LSU in Week 1 and a good-not-great 22-7 win in Week 2.
Reynolds’ rushing prowess also gives another dimension to the Tigers’ offense after he carried the ball 14 times against Georgia Southern, racking up 38 yards.
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Reynolds will make his first start when Clemson faces North Carolina in its ACC opener Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for Noon ET.
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 4:45 AM.