Dabo Swinney didn’t hide how he feels about the latest wave of NFL players trying to find their way back into college football.
With Clemson set to meet LSU in Week 1, the matchup is already carrying a lot of attention because of the different ways the two programs are approaching the sport right now. On one side is Lane Kiffin, who arrives at LSU amid early controversy as the Tigers try to add former NFL rookies to their roster this season while those players pursue another year of eligibility through the court system.
That push has run into resistance from the SEC and other power conferences, and with Week 1 getting closer, the situation remains unsettled.
Swinney, whose own approach has kept Clemson committed to its usual talent pipeline, made it clear Tuesday that he wants no part of it. He said the whole thing is hard to stomach.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Swinney told reporters, via ESPN. “I would just say it’s kinda embarrassing.
It’s just embarrassing that that’s where we are. I don’t blame the kids… I just think it’s embarrassing where we are with college football.
We’ve been there for a while. I just keep my energy, my focus on the things I control, the things that matter, that’s these kids here and our team.”
He closed with another shot at all the noise surrounding the issue.
“All that outside stuff… no pun intended, we just stay in our lane here at Clemson. Try to.”
In Other News...
LSU Just Got Pulled Into A Roster Fight With Real Stakes
LSUs offseason has taken on a legal edge, with the SEC filing a lawsuit against the school, its Board of Supervisors, president Wade Rousse, athletic director Verge Ausberry and head coach Lane Kiffin over how the program has gone about recruiting former professional athletes. The conferences complaint argues that LSU crossed a line under SEC rules and is asking a court to step in before the dispute grows into something bigger than a roster issue.
The filing is aimed at stopping LSU from being tied to conduct the league says runs counter to its purpose, and the crux of the dispute centers on players who previously signed NFL contracts. At the same time, a separate hearing in Baton Rouge is still working through whether those players should be considered eligible under NCAA and SEC rules, leaving LSU in the middle of a fight with real stakes and no immediate resolution in sight. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Lands In A High Stakes Eligibility Fight Before The Opener
With the opener looming, LSU has been pulled into a dispute that stretches well beyond the usual late-summer roster chatter. The SEC has filed a federal lawsuit against the school, head coach Lane Kiffin and other administrators over the eligibility status of several potential players who spent time on NFL training camp rosters, pushing the issue into court just as teams are finalizing plans for the season.
The conference is seeking injunctions to stop LSU from violating league rules by recruiting and rostering professional athletes, arguing the schools approach is harming the SEC as a whole. A separate state court hearing is also moving forward on the eligibility of specific players, including DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, adding another layer to a situation that could shape LSUs available options before the first game is even played. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Added A Homegrown Twist To Its Clemson Spotlight
College GameDay is rolling into Baton Rouge with a distinctly Louisiana flavor before LSUs showdown with Clemson, and the guest picker this time is bringing some Bayou State star power with her. Lainey Wilson, the country music artist from Louisiana, will serve in the celebrity role and also perform live on the show as the pregame spotlight gets going at 8 a.m. CT.
The staging only adds to what should already be a packed scene, with Rece Davis hosting, Nick Saban among the analysts and Lane Kiffin set for a live appearance as the Tigers build toward kickoff. LSU and Clemson are scheduled to meet later that night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, giving the campus a full day to lean into the moment. [Read more 🡒]