Dabo Swinney is no stranger to the national spotlight, but this offseason, the Clemson head coach finds himself sliding down USA TODAY’s head coach rankings, dropping seven spots to No. 10 after last year’s No. 3 finish. The Tigers’ 7-6 record in 2025 clearly didn’t sit well with the national pundits, who wasted no time knocking Swinney down the list.
USA TODAY gave Swinney his due for building Clemson into a national powerhouse, but pointed to the recent roster shakeups and the ever-changing college football landscape as reasons for the Tigers’ slip in the rankings.
"One of the most historically successful active head coaches in college football, Swinney has two national titles and nine conference championships at Clemson. However, the Tigers have fallen off in the era of the transfer portal and had a disappointing 7-6 finish after starting in the top five of the US LBM Coaches Poll. Whether he can find a solution will determine whether he rises or falls in these rankings," USA TODAY stated in its official evaluation.
USA TODAY didn’t just weigh in on the coaches—they pegged Clemson at No. 24 nationally after spring ball, with most of their focus on the Tigers’ quarterback situation. With the previous starter gone, all eyes are on redshirt sophomore Christopher Vizzina, who’s now running the show under new offensive coordinator Chad Morris.
"No previous starting quarterback on campus and no quarterback from the transfer portal means this spring was all about giving time to Christopher Vizzina to get acclimated to the starting role with new offensive coordinator Chad Morris. The good news? Wide receivers Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore look set to have big seasons if Vizzina can deliver the ball. The portal brought in reinforcements for the defense – notably lineman Markus Strong (Oklahoma) and defensive back Elliot Washington II (Penn State) - to join a group led by leading linebacker Sammy Brown. But there’s still overall questions about this roster’s ability to push for a playoff spot," the publication noted.
National Coaching Standings
There was plenty of movement at the top of the coaching rankings, with Indiana’s Curt Cignetti making the biggest leap. After starting last year at No. 13, Cignetti now sits atop the list thanks to a historic title run with the Hoosiers.
"What Cignetti did in transitioning James Madison from the Championship Subdivision to being in position to reach the College Football Playoff would be enough to earn a spot on this list. However, he's at No. 1 because of his insane success at Indiana. The Hoosiers are 27-2 and 17-1 in the Big Ten in his two seasons with a dominant run to the school's first national title. Cignetti is simply the closest thing college coaching has to a Nick Saban-like figure," USA TODAY stated.
Rounding out the top five: Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, and Oregon’s Dan Lanning. No surprises there—these are the names Clemson fans have come to expect at the top of every national list.
Clemson is scheduled to open its season against LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin, who is ranked No. 6 overall.
Clemson’s ACC schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a home date against Miami and Mario Cristobal (No. 7), plus a showdown with Virginia Tech and James Franklin (No. 14). The Tigers will have plenty of chances to prove the doubters wrong this fall.
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