Colin Cowherd Points ‘Cussed’ Dabo Swinney a Profession Warning as Clemson Pressed for Large Change

Time and time once more, Dabo Swinney has led the Clemson Tigers to the promised land. In 2025, nevertheless, issues are altering dramatically. After beginning the season ranked No. 4 within the preseason polls, the Tigers have stumbled to a surprising 1-3 file via the primary 4 weeks.
LSU’s early success, beating Clemson in Week 1, may not carry the identical weight because the season unfolds. The actual query is, how can Swinney presumably recruit high expertise after such a disastrous begin?

How Will Dabo Swinney Adapt to a Altering School Soccer Panorama?
Clemson’s dreadful 1-3 begin, together with a 0-2 file in convention play, was punctuated by a current 34-21 loss to Syracuse. The offense has been sputtering, scoring 21 factors in its final two video games, which wasn’t almost sufficient to safe a victory. The staff’s lone win got here in Week 2 towards Troy with a last rating of 27-16. This implies the Tigers’ offense has failed to attain greater than 27 factors in any sport, whilst their protection held a top-four opponent to solely 17 factors.
Swinney has traditionally discovered methods to make issues work within the ever-changing world of faculty soccer. Nonetheless, between NIL offers and the switch portal, he has but to grasp these new team-building avenues. Analyst Colin Cowherd acknowledged this actuality, pleading with Swinney to rethink his method in a current podcast.
“Pay attention, Clemson’s not superb,” Cowherd stated. “They didn’t wish to do the switch portal, and it appears like they want about six extra good gamers. I like Dabo Swinney, I believe he’s cussed. I believe Dabo has to enter the switch portal. You don’t must get 13-18 guys, you will get eight. They only don’t look gifted sufficient.”
One option to describe Swinney is cussed, as the top coach has steadfastly refused to interact with the portal. Finally, no program can count on to reach this period of faculty soccer with out adapting to the brand new guidelines of engagement. Whereas Swinney has tailored in some areas, his reluctance to make use of the portal suggests he hasn’t advanced sufficiently.
In the meantime, different groups are thriving through the use of the very instruments Swinney ignores. Georgia Tech, now ranked No. 16, is led by a beginning quarterback they acquired from Texas A&M and is constructing on a monumental 24-21 win over the Tigers two weeks in the past. On this previous week’s sport, Clemson was defeated by a Syracuse staff that discovered each quarterbacks within the portal.
Whatever the exterior criticism, Clemson has no alternative however to proceed with its present roster for the remainder of the 2025 season. There are not any mid-season trades or free brokers to check in faculty soccer; it’s merely Swinney and the staff he assembled. The long-time head coach has his work lower out for him and might have to vary his methods heading into the 2026 season essentially. With a substantial buy-out in his contract, the Tigers have little alternative however to hope their legendary coach can determine it out.