DeAndre Hopkins may be telling the truth, but do not tell that to many members of the Clemson Family. In the aftermath of the Tigers' brutal 20-6 home loss to Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets' recently promoted wide receivers coach shared a questionable post on social media. He took a picture of the Georgia Tech locker room celebrating the win in what was labeled as "Death Valley Jr".
Given that Hopkins is a Clemson alum and one of the best players to ever suit up for Dabo Swinney, this looks to have been done in poor taste. However, Hopkins was quick to go on social media Saturday evening by saying, "Just put the first tag on social media that came up! Didn't realize it said 'Jr', nothing but love for clemson and hometown Central." Of course, he did not capitalize Clemson...
Hopkins joined Brent Key's staff this past offseason after officially hanging up the spikes as an all-time NFL wide receiver. While there was some debate on if he could have been another Swinney player to serve under him like Tahj Boyd, CJ Spiller, and so many others, Hopkins does have a good connection with George Godsey from their time together with the Houston Texans. So there is that.
Regardless, this whole incident just adds insult to injury following Clemson's worst loss since 2008.
An important clarification from the man himself: https://t.co/kKmNarFMM5 pic.twitter.com/TQ1WSWc9ge
— Grayson Mann (@gray_mann21) November 15, 2026
Dabo Swinney has allowed for Clemson's Death Valley to become a joke
Following this latest home loss, Clemson is now 2-9 in its last 11 home games against Power Four competition. This dates back to the first week of November 2024 when the Tigers fell to Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals. During the peak of Swinney's coaching powers from 2015 through 2020, any visiting team coming into Death Valley was taking a certain loss back home with them. Not anymore.
It has become a house of horrors for the Tigers, as Clemson has lost its last three home games against Power Four teams in embarrassing fashion. Miami ran all over the Tigers back in Week 5. The Virginia Tech home loss from nearly a month ago was a pathetic offensive performance by the team. It was only outdone by the worst loss of the season to Georgia Tech on Saturday. This team is toast.
With only two games left at Duke and home against South Carolina, this could be a 6-7 team if the Tigers do not get it together in time for their holiday-season bowl game. Clemson may be down bad in its quarterback room, but this is the worst offense in the country. It has not scored an offensive touchdown in two weeks. If Trent Pearman has to start at Duke, then Clemson will surely fall to 6-5.
Right now, Death Valley has gone from one of the hardest places to play in the country, to becoming a bit of a cakewalk for Power Four visitors. South Carolina may have been dreadful on Saturday against Arkansas, but the Gamecocks did not have LaNorris Sellers available. Even if Clemson is in the worst shape possible on offense, this team is still too talented to let people come in and push them around.
It feels like we are one week closer to it being the end of the Swinney era at Clemson as we know it.
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