Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn’t view this season any differently than others in his illustrious career: facing criticism over his philosophy, his team being written off early, and yet, once again, celebrating another successful campaign atop college football.
Swinney, who has been dealing with criticism since taking over as interim coach in 2008, shrugged off doubts about his approach. “The way I’ve been taking shots since I got the job, yeah, what’s changed?” he said, dismissing any shift in the outside narrative. The 12th-seeded Tigers (10-3) are now headed to the College Football Playoffs for the seventh time in the competition’s 11-year history. Clemson, ranked No. 13, will face No. 4 Texas (11-2) in the opening round, with the winner advancing to face Arizona State.
Throughout his tenure, Swinney has been criticized on various fronts, including his views on religion, player compensation, and his controversial “Football Matters” shirt during 2020 protests. More recently, the biggest focus has been his reluctance to embrace the transfer portal, aside from adding a backup quarterback for depth.
Despite a tough start to the season, including a 34-3 loss to No. 1 Georgia, Clemson bounced back with six straight victories, only to falter with a home loss to Louisville and a 17-14 defeat to South Carolina. Many thought the Tigers’ postseason hopes were dashed, but after Miami’s loss to Syracuse, they earned another shot with a berth in the ACC championship game. Clemson seized the opportunity, edging out SMU 34-31 on a dramatic 56-yard walk-off field goal by freshman Nolan Hauser, securing their ninth ACC title under Swinney.
For linebacker Barrett Carter, the accomplishments are simply expected. “This is what we expect,” he said, acknowledging the outside noise but focusing on the team’s goals. Swinney’s message after the Georgia loss was clear: play to your potential, and there would be more games to come.
Despite questions about some of Swinney’s methods, including Clemson’s recent stance on NIL and the transfer portal, the coach’s consistency and focus on values are respected by his peers, including Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. As the Tigers prepare for another playoff run, it’s clear that Swinney’s resilience and steady leadership have once again led Clemson to the top, despite the outside doubts.
