Paul Finebaum reacts to Dabo Swinney 'meltdown' amid early-season struggles

In response to Clemson‘s 1-2 start to the 2025 season, many have questioned what Dabo Swinney’s future looks like with the Tigers. On Tuesday, he highlighted the past success he’s enjoyed with the Tigers and said that if he can’t do it anymore at Clemson, perhaps he’d find success somewhere else.

Paul Finebaum has since provided his reaction to what he called Swinney’s “meltdown” ahead of Week 4. The SEC analyst sided with the longtime Tigers head coach.

“Don’t get mad, because Dabo is mad,” Finebaum said during SportsCenter on Thursday. “He had a little bit of a meltdown, but i like what he did. Because don’t forget, Dabo Swinney has won two national championships. He beat Nick Saban both times. He was in the playoffs this past year.

“So you can’t be mad that the preseason No. 3 or 4 team in the country — with a Heisman favorite a quarterback — has been a complete bust. Dabo just wanted everybody to know that he’s Dabo Swinney and at 55, he can go somewhere else.”

On Tuesday, Swinney said that if Clemson is “tired of winning, they can send me on my way.” This caused backlash on social media, with critics pointing out how the last few seasons haven’t lived up to the standard the Tigers have been accustomed to under his guidance.

“I won’t stop. I’m 55. I’ll go somewhere else and win,” Swinney said on Tuesday. “I ain’t going to the beach. We’ve won this league eight of the last 10 years. Is that good? I’ve got a long memory in case y’all don’t know.

“This is a program that’s built to last. If you don’t believe in us after we lost just two games, you weren’t all in anyway. Hate to disappoint all the haters out there, but I have a long way to go, boys.”

Before last season, Clemson had not made a College Football Playoff since the 2020 season. The Tigers found themselves in the CFP’s field of 12 after winning the ACC Championship game. However, they were ranked No. 16 with three losses in the final CFP poll.

That said, Clemson has more than enough time to correct their early-season struggles. The Tigers lost three games during the regular season in 2024, including two in non-conference play. They ultimately finish 7-1 against the ACC and found themselves in the conference championship game and subsequently in the CFP.

Clemson will little to no margin for error if the Tigers want to replicate this feat in 2025. With matchups against SMU (a rematch of the 2024 ACC Championship game), No. 7 Florida State and a road trip to South Carolina still to come during the regular season, that appears easier said than done.