An underrated part of making bold predictions is that they do not often come true. When it comes to the nine predictions James Dator made for SB Nation ahead of the 2026 college season, he was quick to pile on his prediction for the demise of Dabo Swinney. He has Swinney's two-decade run at Clemson ending after this season.
While it is convenient for one member of the media after another to call out Clemson's shortcomings, this is not going to be the year when it ends for Swinney.
The Tigers have too much pride to go out with a whimper in back-to-back seasons. Clemson's coaching staff is as good as anyone's in the ACC. They are also ushering in a new starting quarterback with Cade Klubnik having turned pro. It will be either the veteran Christopher Vizzina or newcomer Tait Reynolds leading the Tigers out of the tunnel to start the season.
Above all else, the Tigers' pathway into the College Football Playoff is much easier than other would-be contenders. The Tigers still need to get to Charlotte, as well as hope they split their pair of SEC games with LSU and South Carolina. That could be enough. So unless Clemson goes 7-6 again, Swinney and his staff should live to fight another day in their roles.
So why is Dator the latest writer to be this down on Swinney and the Clemson program as a whole?
His forecast of "another rough year" for the Tigers hinges on Swinney's hesitancy toward adapting modern college football principles. Swinney was notoriously slow in coming around to the idea of using the transfer portal to supplement his roster. He is still trying to figure out what NIL is all about. This has left the Clemson roster in a far worse spot than it had been in a pre-COVID world.
Rather than expecting this to be Swinney's last year leading Clemson, now is the perfect time to buy low on a Tigers program looking to build itself back up.
Count Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers out at your own peril this season
Even if it looks different for Clemson this season, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Last year came with immense expectations for the program. That backfired on them almost immediately. Whether it was the wrong on-field leaders in place or an incongruent cast of characters, it did not work out at all.
However, there are reasons to be bullish on this team. The Clemson coaching staff features three former Power Four head coaches in offensive coordinator Chad Morris (Arkansas), defensive coordinator Tom Allen (Indiana), and offensive coach Matt Luke (Ole Miss). Swinney has a wealth of knowledge at his disposal on this staff to help get his team out of the rut it finds itself in.
Clemson will also have a new starting quarterback in either Vizzina or Reynolds. Vizzina is giving off the early vibes of the ultimate throwback player this team has been begging for. Clemson desperately needed a reset at quarterback after how it went with Klubnik the previous three seasons. Vizzina could be the necessary catalyst to change what the Tigers have long been missing under center.
The Tigers also play a manageable ACC schedule. They do not draw Louisville or SMU in conference play. They also get ACC favorite Miami at home. This may allow Clemson to sneak up on some teams as a College Football Playoff dark horse. Again, if they can just get to Charlotte, their wildest dreams might all come true. This team could potentially make the playoffs for the second time in three years.
Even if Swinney's back is against the wall, he seems to be oddly comfortable there. He has no interest in retiring, but he does have to accept that what has transpired on the football field over the last five years is simply no longer good enough. Adapt or die. Hopefully, Swinney chooses the former.
With Clemson being a hungrier team than ever before, one that got embarrassed a season ago, this makes the concept of buying in all the more feasible. Frankly, this is what Swinney and his staff need. Complete and total buy-in. As is the case with all of his players competing for starting jobs, he and his staff must also re-earn their credibility within this team. This is why you can never count Clemson out.
Right now, we are looking at a team and a coach whose stock has been greatly depreciated over the last half-decade. Believe it or not, this is a solid entry point for prospective buyers. You are getting a premium product at a discount. Clemson may not be an obvious buy, but Swinney has the support he needs to reach the summit once again in the ACC. He won the ACC two years ago. Miami never has...
Rather than short Swinney's Clemson program, let's keep close tabs on the Tigers overachieving this season. They can only go up from here. Swinney and the rest of the Clemson family are banking on it.
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