The disrespect towards Dabo Swinney continues to grow after another season where the Clemson football program failed to make the college football playoff.
Swinney is one of the most polarizing figures in college football, generating both praise and criticism. Opinions vary widely.
Recently, College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn ranked the top 12 head coaches in college football, placing Swinney at No. 6. While Conn is a knowledgeable football analyst and writer, I believe his assessment is incorrect.
Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have experienced a decline in recent years. Once considered the second-best head coach behind Nick Saban, Swinney has since been surpassed by Kirby Smart. Nevertheless, Swinney remains one of only two active head coaches with multiple national championships, joining an exclusive list with Smart. To regain his top ranking, Swinney needs to lead Clemson back to the CFP after a three-year absence.
While Conn’s criteria of on-field performance, high school recruiting, and transfer portal recruiting is understandable, I believe it falls short in evaluating a coach’s overall impact.
History should weigh more heavily in this analysis. Swinney boasts a 170-43 record, two national championships (both against Nick Saban and Alabama), and eight ACC Championships. This is an impressive resume.
Clemson’s recent seasons may not have matched their peak, but they still achieved 10 wins, 10 wins, and 9 wins, which many programs would envy. While Swinney’s approach to the transfer portal might be criticized, his historical success and continued strong performance should not be overlooked.
While I understand Conn’s reasoning, I simply disagree with it. My main issue is with some of the names ranked ahead of Swinney, particularly Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.
At a program like Ohio State, the criteria used—recruiting and transfer portal activity—are almost guaranteed to be successful regardless of the coach. Ohio State will always be a top-tier recruiting destination. So, while they recruit well and are active in the transfer portal, what about actual on-field success?
I’ve said this before, but Ryan Day was handed the keys to a Ferrari and has driven it like a Chevy Impala. Despite having arguably the best roster in college football each season, Ohio State hasn’t won the Big Ten since 2020. There’s no way you can convince me that Day is a better coach than Swinney!
This might come off as a rant, but it felt necessary. Swinney is undeniably a top 5 head coach in college football.
