By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/Sabri Haidar- The Mojo Network)
Dabo Swinney has never shied away from outside criticism. After Clemson’s opening-week loss to LSU, the head coach invited people to “throw mud” on his program. Three weeks into the season, that mud has turned into a landslide of doubt following a 24-21 loss at Georgia Tech.
At 1-2, the Tigers are in uncharted territory by recent standards, but Swinney insists the reality doesn’t match the perception.
“The perception is that everything’s terrible and we stink … but that’s not the reality,” Swinney said Sunday. “We’ve got a good football team that’s just not playing up to its capability. We’re still a couple of plays away from being 3-0 — and that’s a fact.”
Missed Chances Against Top Competition
Clemson, ranked No. 4 in the preseason, has tumbled out of the AP poll after dropping two of its first three. Both setbacks came against ranked opponents, but each had chances that slipped away.
Against LSU, Cade Klubnik marched the Tigers into the red zone in the final minutes, only to miss back-to-back throws on third and fourth down that sealed a 17-10 loss. On Saturday, Georgia Tech needed a 90-yard drive late in the fourth quarter and a frantic 55-yard field goal at the buzzer to edge Clemson.
The Tigers didn’t help themselves. Klubnik turned it over twice, including an interception inside Tech’s 10, while freshman receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. dropped a key third-down pass. Small mistakes added up to another narrow defeat.
Former Players Weigh In
For a fan base accustomed to College Football Playoff runs and ACC titles, “close” isn’t good enough. Even Swinney’s former players are voicing frustration.
Ex-defensive end Shaq Lawson posted on social media, “We don’t got no dawgs at Clemson. That NIL change everything.”
Swinney didn’t fire back but acknowledged the sting. “Everybody’s entitled to whatever opinion they want,” he said. “We gotta be better.” He pointed specifically to poor tackling on the perimeter in Tom Allen’s 4-2-5 scheme, saying the defense has been “soft” at corner and nickel.
Searching for Answers
Swinney was openly critical of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley’s approach in the LSU game, noting the lack of commitment to the run. But what bothered him most this week was his defense’s inability to get a stop when it mattered most.
Ultimately, he knows the buck stops with him. “I gotta get them confident that they can make that one play because that’s really what it is,” Swinney said. “There’s no panic here.”
History Offers Hope — But Pressure Is Real
This isn’t the first time Clemson has started 1-2. Back in 2014, losses to Georgia and Florida State were followed by a 10-3 finish and, within two years, a national championship.
But the backdrop feels different now. Clemson hasn’t reached the playoff since 2020, and three straight seasons without a CFP berth coincide with the rise of NIL and the transfer portal. Swinney has kept more of his roster intact than most, and that continuity fed optimism entering 2025. Klubnik was a Heisman hopeful, and the defense featured multiple NFL prospects.
That only makes the early skid more alarming. Clemson’s two losses have come to top-20 opponents by a combined 10 points, but in an era of heightened expectations, close calls don’t buy much patience.
“Not every 1-2 is the same,” Swinney said. “We’ve been a good program for a long time, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t faced adversity. We’re gonna battle our butts off.”