Dabo Swinney’s name has long been synonymous with elite college football coaching. But heading into 2026, the conversation around Clemson’s head man is shifting - and not in the direction Tiger fans would hope.
Earlier this week, a top-10 coaching list made the rounds, spotlighting the best in the game right now. Names like Marcus Freeman and Kirby Smart were expected inclusions, and rising stars like Mike Elko also got their due.
Sitting at No. 1 was Curt Cignetti, fresh off a national title run in 2025-26. But one name was notably absent: Dabo Swinney.
Now, to be fair, the list leans heavily on recent performance rather than career accolades - and Swinney’s résumé still holds up against just about anyone in the sport. But his omission speaks volumes about how the college football world currently views Clemson’s trajectory.
Let’s rewind to the start of 2025. The Tigers were supposed to be back - reloaded, refocused, and ready to reassert themselves as national contenders.
Instead, they stumbled to a 7-6 finish, their worst season since 2010. That kind of drop-off isn’t just a blip; it’s a red flag for a program that once felt like a permanent fixture in the College Football Playoff conversation.
A big part of the criticism centers on Swinney’s approach to roster building. For years, he famously resisted the transfer portal, preferring to develop talent from within.
That philosophy worked when Clemson was stacking top-five recruiting classes and churning out NFL talent. But in today’s college football landscape - where elite programs reload instantly through the portal - that approach can leave you behind in a hurry.
To his credit, Swinney adjusted this offseason. Clemson was more active in the portal than it’s been in recent memory, landing enough transfers to crack the top 35 in ON3’s portal rankings.
That’s a step forward - but it’s still not quite enough to keep pace with the heavy hitters. In fact, five teams on Clemson’s 2026 schedule brought in higher-ranked transfer classes, including LSU, their Week 1 opponent, who sits at No. 4 nationally.
So what does all this mean for Swinney in 2026? Well, it’s shaping up to be a pivotal year - maybe even a defining one.
If the Tigers can bounce back and compete at a high level, it’ll be a testament to Swinney’s adaptability and leadership. And let’s be clear: turning things around after a 7-6 campaign, in this era of rapid roster turnover and sky-high expectations, would be one of the more impressive feats of his coaching career.
But if Clemson stumbles again, the noise around Swinney’s future will only get louder. The margin for error is thin, and the pressure is real.
For now, he’s on the outside looking in when it comes to the sport’s top coaching names. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that counting out Dabo Swinney is a risky move. The question is: does he still have one more climb left in him?