Paul Finebaum calls Dabo Swinney, Clemson, the saddest story in college football

The Clemson Tigers are 4-4 for the first time since 2010 and Paul Finebaum isn’t feeling sorry for them. On Sunday, the SEC Network analyst weighed in on Clemson’s fall from grace in recent years.

“The saddest story in college football this year is Dabo Swinney and Clemson,” Finebaum said. “There is not a single person outside of that area code who is feeling sorry. This is a coach who has thumbed his nose at the norms of where we are today.

“He has made countless mistakes and it’s now blowing up. I think the real question for Dabo Swinney and Clemson is can you get it back? I mean, these are not easy things to get back. Nebraska has been in the wilderness for 25 years. Other programs have been out there.”

After falling to NC State on Saturday, Clemson has reached a new low. The tides turned quickly. In 2015, Clemson reached its first College Football Playoff, losing to Alabama in the national championship. One year later, Clemson exacted revenged on the Crimson Tide, solidifying itself at the top of the college football world.

In 2018, the Tigers won another title, again taking down Alabama. The team reached the CFP the next two years, increasing its streak to six-straight appearances. However, in the 2021-22 season, Clemson was nowhere to be found in the exclusive four spots. The Tigers suffered the same outcome last season.

The 2023 campaign will be no exception. So, what changed? Oddly enough, it wasn’t Swinney. It was his environment. In 2021, NIL was introduced to the NCAA. In no coincidence, Swinney’s empire began its decline at the same moment.

Dabo Swinney stuck in his ways

Swinney has been unapologetically outspoken against NIL. It isn’t the only change Swinney has refused to embrace. The 53-year-old head coach has also disapproved of the transfer portal, opting for the more traditional route of recruiting players from high school.

Finebaum believes Clemson will become another cautionary tale if it doesn’t change its attitude.

“He had such a recruiting base,” Finebaum said. “That’s where he was winning and I’m not suggesting that that’s gone off the deep end. He’s still recruiting well, but it’s it’s more difficult. And I think you have to be concerned.

“I don’t know when I’ve seen someone really at the top of the game fall this dramatically, this quickly and not really be in their seventies or something, where all of a sudden you just hit that age and it’s a crash and burn. This guy is barely 50 I think and it’s staggering to watch what has happened, and it seemed like it happened overnight.”

With four games ahead, and not against easy competition, Clemson will have to battle to reach a bowl game. On Saturday, the team will take on No. 12 Notre Dame at noon ET on ESPN.