Clemson is walking into 2026 with the kind of preseason buzz Dabo Swinney has spent much of his career feeding off - just not the flattering kind.
After a 7-6 finish last season, the Tigers are no longer being talked about like ACC favorites or playoff locks. They’re being picked to miss the conference championship game and the College Football Playoff, and some around the sport are even wondering whether another rough year could turn up the heat on Swinney.
That doesn’t seem to bother him.
“You get what you earn. It's not what people predict,” Swinney said July 16.
Swinney, who has built a career on being comfortable in the outsider role, leaned right into the skepticism in Charlotte at ACC Kickoff.
“Haters hate, right? As I said, there's a bunch of hate.
I don't know who wrote that song, but the 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.”
And then came the line that summed up exactly how he wants Clemson viewed this fall:
“This year, ain't none of y'all going to pick us. Ain't none of y'all going to say anything good about us.”
The lack of preseason love comes after a major reset in Clemson’s roster and staff. The Tigers lost quarterback Cade Klubnik and eight other players to the NFL draft, then responded by bringing in a school-record 11 transfers. Nine of those newcomers are on defense, and two are on offense.
Still, there was no portal quarterback added to replace Klubnik, a three-year starter. Swinney is betting on what’s already in the building, with Christopher Vizzina the front-runner to start after waiting three seasons. Freshman Tait Reynolds is also in the mix after winning the backup job in spring practice.
“We made a decision that we weren't going to go and get some shiny object at quarterback,” Swinney said. “Well, we understand that. If it doesn't work out, we're going to be just raked over the coals for that.”
Clemson also turned back to a familiar name on offense, rehiring Chad Morris as offensive coordinator. Morris held the same job from 2011-14 and was part of the staff that helped rescue Swinney’s tenure in 2011, when the Tigers bounced back from a 6-7 season in 2010 to win 10 games and the ACC.
This time, the hire drew plenty of criticism. Morris went 4-20 in two seasons at Arkansas in 2018-19, a stretch that put him among the worst coaches in SEC history. He also hasn’t called plays since 2020 at Auburn and didn’t coach last year while watching his son, Chandler Morris, play at Virginia.
Swinney is clearly aware of what another bad season would bring. The whispers about his job security would only get louder. But he’s not backing away from the choices Clemson made, and he’s not pretending the outside noise is going anywhere.
The first big chance to answer it comes Sept. 5, when Clemson opens against LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
One of the quarterback alternatives Clemson could have chased was Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby, but his path took a very different turn. Sorsby ultimately transferred to Texas Tech, then won’t play after violating NCAA gambling policies while at Cincinnati and admitting to it.
He placed thousands of bets on various sports, including games involving Indiana, while he was a true freshman with Texas Tech in 2022. Sorsby sued the NCAA and was briefly granted a temporary injunction to play for Texas Tech despite the violation, but he later withdrew the lawsuit and became ineligible at the collegiate level.
Swinney said Clemson makes a point of educating its players about the dangers of sports betting, and tight end Olsen Patt-Henry said staying eligible is one reason he avoids it.
“When you see consequences like that, that makes a difference,” Swinney said. “Hopefully, it will be a little bit more of a deterrent.”
In Other News...
ACC Coach Sends Dabo Message Clemson Fans Should Not Ignore
At ACC Kickoff media days, Virginia Tech coach James Franklin took a moment to tip his cap to Dabo Swinney, calling attention to a friendship that has stretched beyond the sideline and into years of family connections and Nike trips. Franklin made it clear he understands the business side of college football, but he also acknowledged the respect he has for what Swinney has built at Clemson, a program that has stayed in the leagues championship conversation for years.
That kind of public praise matters because the two programs are set to meet on Oct. 24 in a game with real ACC implications. Clemson will have plenty of reasons to listen closely when a conference rival speaks that highly of Swinney, especially with the possibility that this matchup could help shape the road to the ACC Championship. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Just Sent The NCAA A Message Clemson Fans Feel
Dabo Swinney says Clemson still has not heard back from the NCAA on the tampering claim it filed involving linebacker Luke Ferrelli, leaving the Tigers waiting for a ruling on a matter that has already drawn plenty of attention around the sport. Ferrellis path alone has made the situation notable, as he transferred to Clemson before eventually re-entering the portal and landing at Ole Miss, a sequence that put the case squarely in the middle of the transfer-era chaos college football keeps trying to sort out.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has publicly backed Clemsons position and said NCAA leadership promised the issue would be addressed, giving the Tigers some conference support as they wait. Ole Miss coach Pete Golding has brushed off the controversy and suggested tampering is simply part of the modern game, but for Clemson the unanswered question is still the one that matters most: when the NCAA finally weighs in, what will it decide? [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Sounds Fired Up About Clemsons New Weight Room Era
Clemson has entered a new phase in the weight room this summer, and Dabo Swinney sounds energized by the change. The Tigers are working through a demanding offseason under a fresh strength and conditioning voice, and Swinney has made it clear the intensity level has been noticeable, with players handling the grind well as they push through the program.
One of the early examples Swinney pointed to was Chris Johnson Jr., whose physical progress has stood out during the summer work. The bigger picture for Clemson is the same one that always matters in the offseason: building a tougher, more complete roster before camp opens, and the early signs from the weight room suggest the Tigers like where things are headed. [Read more 🡒]