Time and time again, Dabo Swinney has led the Clemson Tigers to the promised land. In 2025, however, things are changing dramatically. After starting the season ranked No. 4 in the preseason polls, the Tigers have stumbled to a shocking 1-3 record through the first four weeks.
LSU’s early success, beating Clemson in Week 1, might not carry the same weight as the season unfolds. The real question is, how can Swinney possibly recruit top talent after such a disastrous start?
How Will Dabo Swinney Adapt to a Changing College Football Landscape?
Clemson’s dreadful 1-3 start, including a 0-2 record in conference play, was punctuated by a recent 34-21 loss to Syracuse. The offense has been sputtering, scoring 21 points in its last two games, which wasn’t nearly enough to secure a victory. The team’s lone win came in Week 2 against Troy with a final score of 27-16. This means the Tigers’ offense has failed to score more than 27 points in any game, even as their defense held a top-four opponent to only 17 points.
Swinney has historically found ways to make things work in the ever-changing world of college football. However, between NIL deals and the transfer portal, he has yet to master these new team-building avenues. Analyst Colin Cowherd recognized this reality, pleading with Swinney to reconsider his approach in a recent podcast.
“Listen, Clemson’s not very good,” Cowherd said. “They didn’t want to do the transfer portal, and it feels like they need about six more good players. I like Dabo Swinney, I think he’s stubborn. I think Dabo has to go into the transfer portal. You don’t have to get 13-18 guys, you can get eight. They just don’t look talented enough.”
One way to describe Swinney is stubborn, as the head coach has steadfastly refused to engage with the portal. Ultimately, no program can expect to succeed in this era of college football without adapting to the new rules of engagement. While Swinney has adapted in some areas, his reluctance to use the portal suggests he hasn’t evolved sufficiently.
Meanwhile, other teams are thriving by using the very tools Swinney ignores. Georgia Tech, now ranked No. 16, is led by a starting quarterback they acquired from Texas A&M and is building on a monumental 24-21 win over the Tigers two weeks ago. In this past week’s game, Clemson was defeated by a Syracuse team that found both quarterbacks in the portal.
Regardless of the outside criticism, Clemson has no choice but to continue with its current roster for the rest of the 2025 season. There are no mid-season trades or free agents to sign in college football; it is simply Swinney and the team he assembled. The long-time head coach has his work cut out for him and may need to change his ways heading into the 2026 season fundamentally. With a substantial buy-out in his contract, the Tigers have little choice but to hope their legendary coach can figure it out.
