Clemson gets more votes in US LBM Coaches Poll after win at Cal

Clemson football's third straight win, a 24-10 victory over the California Golden Bears in Berkeley on Friday, has the Tigers gaining a little more steam in the Sunday's new Week 5 US LBM Coaches Poll. While still unranked, Clemson (3-1 overall, 2-0 ACC) received five votes for top-25 consideration

What is the story about?

Clemson football's third straight win, a 24-10 victory over the California Golden Bears in Berkeley on Friday, has the Tigers gaining a little more steam in the Sunday's new Week 5 US LBM Coaches Poll.

While still unranked, Clemson (3-1 overall, 2-0 ACC) received five votes for top-25 consideration in Sunday's Coaches Poll. The Tigers received three votes after needing a 14-point fourth quarter comeback to beat North Carolina in Week 3 at Memorial Stadium.

Clemson overcame two turnovers and an early 7-0 deficit to win a defensive struggle against the Golden Bears. Bryant Wesco Jr. had a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown that broke a 10-10 tie with 3:57 to play in the third quarter.

Gideon Davidson added two touchdown runs, including a 65-yarder

to put the game out of reach after the Tigers faced third-and-8 from their own 25-yard line with 2:59 to play.

Wesco's punt return was the first for Clemson since the 2018 season, and it came just a few days after coach Dabo Swinney said on his weekly radio show that he felt Wesco was close to breaking one for a touchdown.

The Tigers' defense held California (2-2, 1-1) to 231 yards and Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to a career-low 119 passing yards. Elliot Washington II picked off Sagapolutele twice, including on the Bears' final drive.

Linebacker Sammy Brown led Clemson with eight tackles, linebacker London Merritt added a sack, and defensive tackle Champ Thompson and linebacker Jeremiah Alexander combined for another sack.

Clemson will face a top-5 Miami Hurricanes (4-0) team at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Week 5 in prime-time. In the meantime, here's a look at Sunday's full US LBM Coaches Poll.

What Cal coach Tosh Lupoi said about Clemson football after Tigers win

📸 Rich Barnes, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/27bEzemZx9 pic.twitter.com/R0rye3EXIe

— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) September 26, 2026

Top-10 shakeup in new Coaches Poll after Week 4 top-25 upsets

Here's a look at the full top 25 rankings in the US LBM Coaches Poll heading into Week 5.

Schools Dropped Out

No. 19 Louisville; No. 20 Texas A&M; No. 23 Washington; No. 24 Oklahoma;

Others Receiving Votes

Oklahoma State 126; Kentucky 123; Boise State 112; Pittsburgh 97; Virginia Tech 84; Nebraska 67; Wake Forest 48; Louisville 42; Wisconsin 39; Cincinnati 35; Auburn 22; Washington 20; James Madison 17; Virginia 15; Texas A&M 14; Northwestern 12; North Dakota State 11; Massachusetts 9; New Mexico 7; Minnesota 7; Oklahoma 6; Clemson 5; Arizona 3; Western Michigan 2; UTSA 2; West Virginia 1;

Clemson football schedule 2026

Clemson hosts No. 5 Miami at Memorial Stadium in Week 5 of the 2026 college football season. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC.

All times Eastern.