Following a disappointing 2025 campaign, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney isn’t concerned about the diminished expectations for his team next season.
“You get what you earn. It’s not what people predict,” Swinney said Thursday at the ACC Football Kickoff. “If it was about what people said, what they predicted, we win the league last year, we go to the national championship. This year, ain’t none of y’all gonna pick us. Ain’t none of y’all gonna say anything good about us.”
He added: “One thing about haters, when you win, it don’t matter what they say. And when you lose, it don’t matter what you say.”
The Tigers were among the projected favorites to win the ACC and contend for a national championship last season. However, they struggled to find their footing and ultimately posted the program’s worst record (7-6) since 2010.
During the event in Charlotte, Swinney lamented Clemson’s struggle to establish a potent rushing attack and secure wins in the fourth quarter. He also bemoaned the team’s defense, which surrendered an average of 251.2 passing yards per game. The 56-year-old called it “the worst pass defense in my coaching career.”
“We stunk last year. That’s true, too,” Swinney said. “We’ve lost some games that we should have won.”
Clemson is predicted to once again fall short of contending for the conference championship. The Tigers lost nine players to the NFL draft, including quarterback Cade Klubnik. His absence leaves junior Christopher Vizzina and freshman Tait Reynolds to compete for the starting role.
While Swinney has been known for his reluctance to utilize the transfer portal in past years, Clemson welcomed a program-record 11 transfers this offseason. Despite the team’s lack of experience under center, Swinney opted not to pursue a veteran passer on the transfer market.
“We made a decision that we weren’t gonna go and get some shiny object at quarterback,” he said.
Swinney also dipped into his past, rehiring Chad Morris as offensive coordinator after relieving Garrett Riley of his duties in late December. Morris served on Swinney’s staff from 2011-14 but hasn’t called plays since 2020, when he coached at Auburn.
Since taking over the team ahead of the 2009 season, Swinney has led Clemson to two national titles and nine ACC championships, though the Tigers have made just one College Football Playoff appearance over the past five seasons.
Clemson will open its season against LSU on Sept. 5.
