Dabo Swinney has built Clemson into a powerhouse by sticking to his core principles, even as college football evolves. His reluctance to dive into the transfer portal has been a defining trait, but this offseason, he’s finally embraced it—at least in a limited, strategic way. The Tigers used the portal to strengthen their defensive line, a crucial move that could help them compete at the highest level. With eight returning starters on offense and a largely intact offensive line, Clemson is primed to build on last season’s success.
The Cade Klubnik Question
Everything for Clemson this season revolves around Cade Klubnik. The quarterback is coming off the best year of his career, throwing for 3,600 yards and 36 touchdowns while adding nearly 500 yards and seven scores on the ground. The expectations are sky-high. Now, he must take another leap and show he can reach the level of former Clemson greats like Trevor Lawrence.
On the Locked on ACC podcast, analyst Kenton Gibbs praised Klubnik’s growth but pointed out that decision-making remains his biggest area for improvement. “Nobody ever said, ‘Hey, he doesn’t have the arm talent’… It’s always been, ‘Can he make good decisions?’” Gibbs believes Klubnik is putting the pieces together and that, combined with Clemson’s roster continuity, could make for a special season.
A Big-Time Coaching Move
Swinney didn’t just improve his roster—he also made a major upgrade on the coaching staff. Clemson brought in Tom Allen, former Indiana head coach and Penn State’s defensive coordinator, to lead their defense. Allen’s Penn State unit was top-10 nationally last year, and his experience should be a game-changer for Clemson.
The Path to a Championship
With stability on offense, a reinforced defensive line, and an elite defensive coordinator, Clemson has all the tools to make a deep run in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. But as always, the burden falls on the quarterback. If Klubnik can elevate his game, the Tigers could be legitimate title contenders.
Can he handle the pressure and lead Clemson to glory? Or will the weight of expectations be too much? This season will be his ultimate test.