As the transfer portal accelerates into college football’s fast lane, Dabo Swinney isn’t changing lanes with it.
Speaking Monday ahead of Clemson’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup with Penn State, Swinney made it clear the Tigers won’t engage in behind-the-scenes negotiations before the portal officially opens Jan. 2 — even as other programs move at warp speed.
“We don’t do that,” Swinney said. “Some of the best players out there, they’ll go in the portal, and 10 minutes later, ‘I’m committed somewhere.’ That ain’t how we operate here. We’re going to do it right.”
No Deals, No Shortcuts
Swinney’s comments were a direct response to the increasingly common practice of players effectively lining up commitments before entering the portal — a gray area that edges into tampering. Clemson, he reiterated, won’t participate.
“I don’t care what other people do,” Swinney said. “We’re not going to cut deals with people and all that stuff.”
It’s a familiar stance from the Clemson head coach, who has consistently prioritized structure, compliance, and internal development over transactional recruiting — even as the sport’s ecosystem shifts around him.
Timing Matters
Clemson’s calendar only sharpens the challenge. The Tigers will return from New York late on Dec. 27, then turn their attention to a portal window that opens just six days later and runs through Jan. 16 — the only window of the year.
“We’ll get rolling that weekend,” Swinney said. “Everybody will have a couple days to recalibrate, reset, refocus… then we’ll be right back in here.”
That stretch includes midyear enrollments, official visits, staff meetings, recruiting travel, and continued work on the 2027 class — all while evaluating portal needs in real time.
More Portal Help Is Coming
While Clemson’s philosophy remains the same, the volume may not. After signing just three transfers last offseason — Jeremiah Alexander, Will Heldt, and Tristan Smith — Swinney acknowledged earlier this month that the Tigers will likely bring in more portal additions this cycle.
“Nothing has changed,” Swinney said of Clemson’s approach. “But we’re going to have to take more portal players this year due to various circumstances.”
That balance — increased necessity without compromised principles — defines Clemson’s offseason outlook.
The Bigger Picture
Clemson isn’t racing the portal clock. It’s trusting its process.
In a system where speed often trumps scrutiny, Swinney is betting that patience, alignment, and long-term fit still matter. Whether that approach delivers immediate roster fixes remains to be seen — but the message from the top is clear.
Clemson will do it right. Even if it means doing it slower.