The calendar may say 2025, but Paul Finebaum sounds like he’s seen this Clemson story before—and he’s finally changing his tune.
The ESPN personality and longtime SEC Network lightning rod has been one of the most vocal critics of Dabo Swinney in recent years, but now says there’s an undeniable bias against the two-time national champion head coach—and that it’s skewing how the Tigers are being viewed heading into the 2025 season.
Speaking on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum said Clemson’s No. 6 spot in the preseason Coaches Poll doesn’t reflect the true strength of Swinney’s rebuilt roster.
“It’s really their first game last year that hasn’t left a lot of people’s minds,” Finebaum said, referencing Clemson’s season-opening loss to Georgia. “Losing at home to South Carolina didn’t help either. And people just kind of ignored how impressive the SMU win was. Even the Playoff game against Texas—sure, it wasn’t a win, but it was one of the only interesting games that day.”
But then Finebaum dropped the line that raised eyebrows across the college football world:
“I think there’s also a bias against Dabo Swinney right now,” he said. “Instead of giving him credit… he’s just shut the noise out and rebuilt this roster. It’s one of the better ones in college football again.”
Yes, that Paul Finebaum—who once openly questioned whether Swinney’s program was on the decline—is now crediting Clemson for making a legitimate return to the national title conversation.
Later in the segment, Finebaum elaborated further, noting how public perception has been slow to catch up to the team’s resurgence.
“We weren’t counting him out as a good coach,” he clarified. “We were counting him out as the guy to follow in Saban’s dynasty footsteps. But now? They’re back to where they were eight or nine years ago. Great defense. And a difference-maker quarterback.”
With a seasoned roster, rising star under center, and a chip on their shoulder, Swinney and the Tigers are quietly reloading—and they’ve got a familiar foe turned believer in their corner.