Clemson’s ugly 51-20 loss to LSU on Saturday night has put Dabo Swinney’s future back under the microscope, and CBS Sports didn’t soften the blow. The outlet said Swinney’s future is officially “in doubt,” after another performance that left the Tigers looking nowhere near the kind of College Football Playoff force they used to be.
Swinney was blunt after the loss.
“We got our (butts) kicked,” Swinney said. “We gotta go win next week.
It’s an embarrassing performance, coaching and playing. We’re going to have to own that.
We can’t let that lead to another loss.”
CBS Sports was even harsher in its assessment, writing, “Swinney looks out-matched and unable to succeed in this current era of college football. The glory days of Clemson football, which included two national championship wins over Alabama, feel like a lifetime ago. Worse, the path back to that level of success feels impossible now under Swinney,”
The outlet also pointed to Swinney’s decision to hire Chad Morris as offensive coordinator as part of what it called “the ultimate double-down move from Dabo,” saying it reflected a reluctance to evolve in the NIL and transfer portal era.
If Clemson ever does move on from Swinney, three names stand out as possible replacements.
Tony Elliott is the first. The former Clemson offensive coordinator is now at Virginia, where he’s starting to turn things around.
Elliott, 46, took over in 2022 and inherited a program that won just three games in both 2022 and 2023. Virginia improved to five wins in 2024, then jumped to 11-3 in 2025 and won the Gator Bowl.
The Cavaliers are now being viewed as an ACC frontrunner and College Football Playoff contender in 2026.
Rhett Lashlee is another strong fit. The SMU coach has already built a résumé that should keep him on the radar, with the Mustangs reaching the College Football Playoff in 2024 after an 11-3 season. SMU has posted two 11-win seasons under Lashlee, who is 38-16 as a head coach and has ACC coaching experience.
Then there’s Kalen DeBoer, the Alabama coach whose name keeps surfacing in unexpected places. Swinney has long been tied to Alabama because of his playing days there, but that door is not opening.
The more interesting scenario is DeBoer becoming available if things go sideways in Tuscaloosa. Stewart Mandel floated a wild chain reaction in which “Lane Kiffin leaves LSU after nine games for Alabama, which fires Kalen DeBoer after eight games.
DeBoer then goes to Clemson to take over for Dabo Swinney after he gets too distraught over tampering to continue,”
It’s a long shot, but after Clemson’s latest setback, even wild ideas are starting to sound worth discussing.
In Other News...
Arkansas Just Showed Its First Real Lineup Tell Before Utah
Arkansas official depth chart ahead of its second game of the season offered the first real glimpse at how the Razorbacks are sorting out their pieces after Week One. The release listed starters and backups across the board, and one of the more notable tweaks came at wide receiver, where Antonio Jordan was moved into the second-team role as the staff continues to settle the rotation.
Elsewhere, the defensive line stayed the same coming out of the opener, a sign that Arkansas is at least comfortable with its front as it prepares for a much stiffer test. Utahs offense will give the Razorbacks a better read on where they stand early in the season, and the depth chart suggests the coaching staff is still fine-tuning a few spots before that matchup arrives. [Read more 🡒]
KJ Jackson's Arkansas Debut Left One Big Concern Before Utah
KJ Jacksons first start for Arkansas checked the most basic box on a September Saturday: the Razorbacks won, and they did it with their new quarterback running the show. In a 31-14 victory over North Alabama, the junior completed 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while adding 27 rushing yards to help settle the offense into a rhythm.
Still, the debut did not leave the kind of clean, finished feeling Arkansas would want heading into Utah. Jackson and head coach Ryan Silverfield both pointed to the need for improvement even after the win, a reminder that the Razorbacks got production but not a fully polished performance from the position they are counting on most. [Read more 🡒]
KJ Jackson Faces A Razorbacks Test That Could Expose Early Problems
KJ Jacksons Arkansas debut had enough to make the Razorbacks feel encouraged and enough to leave a little unease hanging over the offense. In the season-opening win over North Alabama, he completed 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but the outing also included an interception and a lost fumble, two reminders that clean quarterback play will matter a lot more once the competition level rises.
Utah brings the kind of defense that can turn those loose edges into real problems, especially if Arkansas does not get steadier play up front and more help on the ground. The Razorbacks will need to trim the turnovers and cut down on penalties to give Jackson a chance to settle in, and this next test should say a lot about whether the early flashes were a sign of growth or just a product of the opener. [Read more 🡒]