The Clemson Tigers have been active this offseason following a strong 2024 season.
After a tough 2023 campaign, the Tigers bounced back with 10 wins and an ACC title. While 2024 was a success, the 2025 season has the potential to be even greater for Clemson. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, a Heisman contender, will return for his senior year, providing a strong leader at the most critical position. Additionally, Klubnik will have his top three receivers back, with standout Antonio Williams also deciding to return for one more season.
Head coach Dabo Swinney has done an excellent job building Clemson’s program, but in a recent ranking of the country’s best coaches, he was surprisingly left out of the Top 5.
Ari Wasserman of ON3.com recently ranked the top 25 college football coaches, with Swinney placing sixth. Some interesting names, including Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Steve Sarkisian, and Marcus Freeman, were ranked ahead of him. Wasserman pointed out that Swinney’s ranking is influenced by the Tigers’ recent struggles.
“Coaches like Swinney make these lists tough,” Wasserman said. “Do you weigh the legacy of two national titles or focus more on how the program has slipped in recent years?”
It was shocking to see Swinney, with his impressive resume, ranked outside the Top 5. Notably, none of the coaches ahead of him—except Smart—have won a national championship as head coaches. Despite Clemson’s recent absence from the title game, Swinney boasts two national championships in the last decade and four overall appearances in the championship game.
While championships are the ultimate goal, Swinney has also led Clemson to 10 wins in every season since 2011, except for one. This consistency and championship success should have placed him much higher in the rankings.
It’s surprising to see coaches who have never won a national title ranked ahead of Swinney, given the Tigers’ remarkable performance over the past decade. However, Clemson’s title aspirations could be reignited in 2025, with the roster Swinney is building.
In conclusion, ranking Swinney sixth is far too low. While it’s understandable for Smart to be No. 1 due to Georgia’s recent success, Swinney deserves to be ranked higher than the other coaches listed ahead of him.
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