Dabo Swinney wasn’t ready to publicly dissect Clemson’s future moments after the season ended.
Following a 22–10 loss to Penn State Nittany Lions in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, the Clemson Tigers coach shut down questions about what he might change heading into the offseason.
“Yeah, I’m not going to get into any of that,” Swinney said when asked if there were personal or program-level adjustments on his mind. “There’s plenty of things, but I’ll keep those to myself.”
The loss closed a season defined by uneven performances and late momentum that never carried into the postseason. Clemson finished 7–6, while Penn State seized control after halftime, exploiting a depleted Clemson defense and limiting the Tigers to 43 rushing yards on 25 carries. The offense never found rhythm in cold, snowy conditions, and the game slipped away in the third quarter.
Swinney’s response was brief but deliberate. With emotions still raw and evaluations just beginning, he made it clear that any changes will be addressed privately, not debated publicly in the immediate aftermath of a loss.
Clemson now turns toward an offseason of internal review, roster decisions and reset, with Swinney keeping his cards close as the program charts its next steps.