Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers fell to 3-5 on the 2025 season after suffering a nail-biting 46-45 loss to the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. It marked Duke’s first win at Clemson since 1980, as the Tigers continue to struggle this season with earlier losses to LSU, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, and SMU.
After leading Clemson to two national championships and several College Football Playoff appearances, Swinney’s future with the program has come under increasing scrutiny in the last few weeks.
Dabo Swinney Gets Advice To Leave Clemson Amid Disappointing Season
Suppose Swinney is fired without cause before December 1. In that case, Clemson will have to pay a buyout of $60 million. The Tigers aren’t expected to make the move, but his potential departure from the program is a hot topic of discussion now.
On the “Matt Barrie Show” on Sunday, SEC analyst Paul Finebaum joined to discuss Week 10 actions of college football and shared a blunt assessment of Swinney’s situation.
“Every time I talk about Davo, somebody takes it the wrong way, but nobody here is suggesting Davo Swinney be fired,” Finebaum said (7:48). “I am strongly suggesting Davo Swinney get out of there, though. It’s gotten so bad. I hate to see a Hall of Fame coach act that petulant and that poorly.
“I don’t have any doubt he can find a job, and sometimes you just have to move on. We’ve all been there or known someone who has been there. I think you know his agent should look around and say, ‘Okay, which one of these openings would be fun for me? where can I go?'”
Clemson started the season as the No. 4 team in the preseason AP poll and is now 2-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with Saturday’s loss to Duke. The loss marked the first time the Tigers had lost four home games in a single season since 1998.
The blow was compounded when the ACC issued Swinney a public reprimand and fined the school $10,000 for his postgame criticism of officials.
Clemson is ranked No. 37 in the PFSN CFB Playoff Meter and will look to bounce back as it squares off against Florida State next weekend. The Tigers still have a winnable slate that is expected to send them to a bowl game this season, with FSU, Louisville, Furman, and South Carolina on the schedule.
Swinney signed a 10-year, $115 million extension with Clemson in 2022. The deal will run through the 2031 season, and his 2025 total compensation is projected to be $11.45 million, including bonuses.