Dabo Swinney might want to reconsider his stance on the transfer portal, especially after his No. 14 Clemson Tigers were thoroughly outplayed in their season opener, losing 34-3 to No. 1 Georgia. The blowout has left many questioning whether Clemson, once a College Football Playoff regular, can even compete in this year’s expanded 12-team playoff field.
Last season, Clemson posted a 9-4 record, marking the first time since 2010 that the Tigers failed to reach double-digit wins under Swinney. The program, which was a fixture in the College Football Playoff for years, has now missed the playoff three seasons in a row. After the 31-point drubbing by Georgia—the third-largest defeat of Swinney’s tenure—Clemson’s playoff hopes already appear dim.
One glaring issue? The Tigers’ complete avoidance of the transfer portal. Clemson was one of only four FBS programs, alongside service academies Army, Navy, and Air Force, that didn’t bring in a single transfer player this offseason. Swinney has downplayed this approach, claiming it wasn’t a deliberate decision, but his well-known reluctance to embrace the portal is evident. According to ESPN’s broadcast, Clemson hasn’t had a single transfer start a game since the portal’s introduction in 2018.
Swinney’s resistance to the evolving landscape of college football could prove costly. As Clemson’s defense collapsed in the second half against Georgia, fans and analysts alike took to social media to criticize Swinney’s outdated strategies and inability to adapt.
The message from college football fans was clear: if Swinney doesn’t evolve, Clemson risks being left behind in the increasingly competitive world of college football.
Dabo Swinney leaving Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/oOkhjsSqNy
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 31, 2024
Dabo Swinney 's refusal to use the transfer portal, negative stance toward NIL is on full display today.
The talent Georgia has compared to Clemson is night and day.
Swinney is a VCR stuck in a Blue Ray world.
— Keith Jouganatos (@KeithJouganatos) August 31, 2024
Live look at Dabo Swinney's seat. #Clemson pic.twitter.com/Gisr16QZbe
— 👑C3KingCodais (@CodyLac) August 31, 2024
Clemson used to be Georgia not that long ago. Through stubbornness and inability to adapt, Dabo Swinney has done this to his program. You could see today coming three years ago and he never did anything to change the course.
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) August 31, 2024
The transfer portal to Dabo after this season pic.twitter.com/akb5rtCi2P
— Tony Cabrera-Steele (@_TonyCabrera) August 31, 2024
If you’re a man and I ever text you a picture of Dabo Swinney, it means I’m not changing my ways for you
— Polly Marino (@PollyMarino) August 31, 2024
Clemson fans seeing Dabo Swinney refuse to use the transfer portal every year pic.twitter.com/fwLoXHJ3ds
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) August 31, 2024
Dabo Swinney without a generational QB: pic.twitter.com/xee0q4iMUV
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) August 31, 2024
Dabo downfall always brings me joy
— Koop🇭🇹 (@AgKoopa) August 31, 2024
Clemson's offense in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 pic.twitter.com/VdvvrbvTes
— Fifth Quarter Clemson (@FQClemson) August 31, 2024
Dabo Swinney running back in time to the transfer portal.pic.twitter.com/c6u2xguh1r
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) August 31, 2024
Dabo Swinney celebrating refusing to adapt to the new era of college football after getting stomped by Georgia
— the Sports ON Tap (@thesportsontap) August 31, 2024
And y’all thought Clemson had a chance 😂 pic.twitter.com/tFnElTZDEV
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) August 31, 2024
Dabo trying to keep up with the modern college football era
pic.twitter.com/N7m4LQLlaf— doogs (@d00gs) August 31, 2024
Dabo Swinney pic.twitter.com/CvN8fchJuW
— Kirko Bangz (@MoeChella301) August 31, 2024
