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By Jordan Sigler
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The Clemson Tigers have been one of the most disappointing teams in college football this fall.
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The Tigers entered this season ranked No. 4 and primed to return to the College Football Playoff with quarterback Cade Klubnik leading the offense. Klubnik was expected to compete for the Heisman Trophy and make a case to be an early draft pick, but has struggled, throwing for 1,530 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions through the first seven games.
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Amid inconsistency from the offense, Clemson is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in ACC play entering their bye in Week 9.
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Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney has been criticized in recent years for his recruiting strategy, attempting to build through high school recruiting instead of aggressively adding elite talent in the transfer portal to aid in competing with heavyweights like Ohio State and Georgia for the CFP.
Despite a disastrous season, Clemson does not intend to make a coaching change before 2026, per Justin Williams of The Athletic.
"But despite Swinney’s huffy ultimatum, his job status is not in question — program sources confirmed as much, finding the question unnecessary," Williams wrote. "They, like others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity in exchange for candor.
"Swinney is as bulletproof as any other coach in the game, and not just because of his $60 million buyout."
Swinney is 183-51 overall and 111-27 in ACC play since he took over the program in 2008. He won national titles with the Tigers in 2016 and 2018, but his last national championship appearance was in 2019, when Trevor Lawrence was his quarterback.
Clemson has lost four games in each season since 2023, which is a troubling trend for a coach who signed a 10-year, $115 million contract extension in 2021.
Swinney has heard the noise of discontented fans this season and defended Clemson's success, going back to when Brent Venables was his defensive coordinator.
"If they want me gone, if they’re tired of winning, they can send me on my way because that’s all we’ve done is win," Swinney said in September. "So if they’re tired of winning, we’ve won this league eight out of the last 10 years, is that not good? I’m just asking. Is that good? To go to the playoff seven out of 10 years, be in four national championships--win it twice?
“If Clemson’s tired of winning, they can send me on my way, but I’m gonna go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach."
Swinney suggested he'd take another coaching job if Clemson fired him.
The Tigers aren't planning to do so yet. But how much grace the program extends to him after his biggest failure in 2025 remains to be seen.
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