The coaching carousel is geared up for 2025. First in the line are two teams who both started off 0-3. Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry after losing 45-26 to Old Dominion. At home. Meanwhile at UCLA, DeShaun Foster was dismissed after losing their last two games to Mountain West teams. These openings could just be the beginning. Several programs are bracing for potential changes, with coaching futures very much in flux. So now, who’s next to jump ship or get the boot?

Then, out of left field, Dabo Swinney dropped a bombshell that left the college football fraternity reeling. On September 16, 2025, Cole Bryson posted on X, quoting Swinney from a press conference: “If Clemson is tired of winning, they can send me on my way. But I’ll go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach. I’m 55, I’m just now getting going.” This wasn’t just coach-speak. It was a defiant stand from a man who’s built Clemson into a powerhouse. Swinney led Clemson to a 12-1 regular season in 2016, and won national titles in both 2016 and 2018 by beating Saban’s Alabama. He is the winningest coach in Clemson history

Was this hinting at a potential exit or was it a bold challenge to his critics? The intrigue deepens when you consider Swinney’s recent struggles. A 1-2 start with the latest loss against Georgia Tech. Clemson is supposed to be the undisputed leader in their conference. The Tigers were ranked no.4 in the AP poll before the season began. By Week 4 they are out of the top 25 altogether.

With a $11 million salary and a legacy of six undefeated seasons, the pressure is on. His refusal to “go to the beach” signals a fire still burning, but his words leave us wondering: will Clemson rise to his challenge, or is a coaching exodus on the horizon?

For fans watching the coaching market, Swinney’s proclamation reframed everything. Suddenly, a guy long thought settled in Clemson became a wild card. If he really did go elsewhere, or maybe even to Virginia Tech, what kind of ripple effect would that have on the broader hiring cycle? And more pressingly, what would Clemson do next if Swinney walked? The odds of that happening are slim. But Dabo’s seat is getting warm.

Clemson’s Early Stumbles Under Swinney Expose Cracks in a Once-Dominant Program

For the Tigers fanbase, the 2025 season has been a painful reality check. Clemson opened the year with a 17–10 loss at LSU, a game where the defense held firm, but the offense couldn’t finish drives. After the loss to LSU, Dabo admitted, “I don’t think we handled their pressure very well,” and lamented at a run game with a measly 1.6 yards per carry.

Then came the 24–21 loss to Georgia Tech, decided on a last-second 55-yard field goal by Aidan Birr. A game Clemson was expected to control but couldn’t close. Swinney later acknowledged the team “stunk in Atlanta” and pointed to defensive lapses and offensive inconsistency.

These setbacks marked Clemson’s first 1-2 start since 2014.  Suddenly, the aura of Clemson as a College Football Playoff favorite has faded. Swinney’s 2018 squad, considered one of the greatest ever, feels like a distant memory. At 55, with a legacy of 9 ACC Championships, he’s at a crossroads. Is this a temporary dip, or a sign of deeper challenges ahead for Clemson under his watch?