Are people out on Dabo Swinney after Clemson’s unranked in AP Poll?
On3 analysts recently discussed what Clemson being unranked might mean for Dabo Swinney heading into the 2026 season.
Clemson Tigers find themselves outside the Top 25 in the AP Poll, leading to speculation about the impact on head coach Dabo Swinney's reputation. On3's Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman discuss the reasons behind this shift, noting that Clemson no longer holds the benefit of doubt when it comes to national rankings. While acknowledging the team's still-talented roster, Wasserman believes voters have good reason to be cautious due to concerns about the quarterback position and a coaching situation that soured last year.
He suggests that Clemson's decline might be attributed to Dabo Swinney's slower adoption of the transfer portal compared to other programs, which ultimately hurt their edge as a football powerhouse. Despite this setback, Wasserman remains optimistic that Clemson could still compete for the ACC Championship, citing the team's consistent competitiveness within the conference.
The biggest wildcard remains freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, whose potential impact on the program remains to be seen, as he surprised his recruiters with his performance.
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