5 wins Dabo Swinney can get this season at Clemson to finally silence all his critics

Every game is different. Win or lose, they help form the tapestry of a season, good, bad, or ugly. When it comes to the Clemson Tigers, the expectations are sky high because that is the standard Dabo Swinney established so many years ago. Love him or hate him, he is an icon in the sport. That being said, we are all wondering if he has another national title run or two in him. So how about this season?

For those who might need a bit of a fresher, here are all the teams Clemson gets to play this season.

Clemson may only play four ACC games this season, but the Tigers also draw two teams out of the SEC in the non-conference to book-end their campaign. They will have to travel to the other Death Valley to take on a team it lost to at home in the LSU Tigers over Labor Day Weekend last year. While it did get the big win over arch rival South Carolina in Palmetto, the Gamecocks are always a menace.

Without further ado, here are five games that Swinney needs to win to regain control of the narrative.

5. Syracuse Orange (Nov. 7: Syracuse, NY)

The midseason road date at Syracuse is notable for a few reasons. Clemson needs to right the wrong it suffered at home in September of last year to the Orange. While Syracuse will regularly play up to the Tigers' standard, now is not the time to give Fran Brown's reeling team any more confidence. SU had a great first season under him, but really hit the skids last fall. Quarterback play unraveled them.

With it being the ninth game of the season, the sixth in ACC play, and the first one in November for Clemson, the Tigers' narrative for 2026 will have already largely been established by then. That being said, this game does feel like a bit of an inflection point. A win could signify things are more buttoned-up once again. Conversely, another defeat to Syracuse could be devastating for Swinney at Clemson.

Regardless of if Syracuse bounces back after its awful season, this game is a must-win for Swinney.

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Nov. 14, Clemson, SC)

Let's be real. If there is going to be any regression candidate in the ACC for this season, it has to be the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Brent Key is proving to be such an excellent head coach at his alma mater. However, the Ramblin' Wreck have suffered far too much attrition to really be a serious playoff contender this season. Haynes King turned pro, while Buster Faulkner and Aaron Philo left for Florida.

Add in the fact that one of Georgia Tech's signature wins from a year ago was an early-season victory over Clemson, Swinney cannot afford to let his team fall to the wayside against its closest ACC rival. Simply put, if Clemson has any serious aspirations about getting back to Charlotte and winning the conference championship, a home loss to the Yellow Jackets probably puts that idea on life support.

Georgia Tech may be one of Clemson's biggest rivals, but the Tigers need to take advantage big time.

3. South Carolina Gamecocks (Nov. 28, Clemson, SC)

Although last year did not live up to lofty expectations for either rival in the Palmetto Bowl, things could be vastly different this season for Clemson and South Carolina. Clemson won the ACC two years ago, despite losing in Palmetto. The Tigers did not come close getting back to Charlotte last year. South Carolina nearly made the playoffs in 2024. The Gamecocks did not go bowling last fall.

ALSO READ: The case for Clemson's title hopes are much stronger than the national media admits

Overall, this is and always will be a high-stakes game for both teams. The winner stands a great chance at cracking the 12-team field. For Clemson, this could be an appetizer on the way to another league title. For South Carolina, it would have to be as an at-large team. When have the Gamecocks ever won the SEC before? With this being LaNorris Sellers' final year in Columbia, it will be interesting.

For Clemson to achieve all it can this year, the Tigers need to beat one of their two SEC opponents.

2. Duke Blue Devils (Nov. 20, Durham, NC)

Perhaps more so than anything, Clemson cannot afford to suffer another loss to the Duke Blue Devils under Swinney's watch. Although Clemson has largely dominated this rivalry series, the Blue Devils have won the two most recent games. This includes a Labor Day Weekend shocker three years ago, as well as last year's stunner. Duke won the ACC a season ago, despite only having a 7-5 (6-2) record.

Essentially, Swinney cannot allow a strong head coach like Manny Diaz to gather any more positive momentum in ACC play. Another win for Duke over Clemson would almost certainly puncture a hole in the narrative Swinney is trying to spin himself out of. In a way, it would be a total referendum for Swinney if Clemson were to lose to Duke for the third time in a row. This game has to be prioritized.

With it being a short week near the end of the season at Wallace Wade, Clemson has to be locked in.

1. LSU Tigers (Sept. 5, Baton Rouge, LA)

While beating arch rival South Carolina and other teams during ACC play like Duke, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse would be tremendous for Clemson, Swinney better have his guys ready to play from the jump. To be quite frank, the Week 1 road date at LSU in the Battle for Death Valley might be the most important game of the season for Swinney. It will also be Lane Kiffin's debut as the LSU head coach.

ALSO READ: Every ACC stadium is chasing what Clemson built in Death Valley

Given that LSU is widely seen as a playoff contender out of the SEC, it would be so wonderful for Clemson to come in and wreck the Bayou Bengals' plans before the season even really begins. Of course, LSU came into Death Valley last year and made Cade Klubnik not even want to be around anymore. Brian Kelly's final LSU was team not remotely good, and Clemson still lost at home to them.

The single best thing Swinney can do to get his critics off his back is to win big over in Baton Rouge.

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