Two Jobs Emerging For Dabo Swinney If He Leaves Clemson

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Two Jobs Emerging For Dabo Swinney If He Leaves Clemson

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are having a season to forget.

Clemson opened the 2025 season ranked inside the top 10, with ACC championship and College Football Playoff expectations. But two and a half months into the season, Clemson is simply fighting for bowl game eligibility. The Tigers topped Florida State, 24-10, to improve to 4-5 on the season.

Swinney's team needs to win two of its final three games to be bowl eligible. The Tigers have had a lot of disappointing seasons in program history, though this one is certainly high up on the list.

Could Dabo Swinney leave Clemson? Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban was asked on Saturday to pick the bigger "disappointment" between Clemson and FSU. He didn't hesitate.

"Clemson!" Saban answered. "Because they were ranked higher to start with. Florida State was ranked. I mean, both teams are having a disappointing season. But I talked to Dabo this week and I think he really had the right approach, because every obstacle has an opportunity to learn and people can draw from it, and he really wants to see how his team finishes the season, responds, learns from all the adversity they've had to overcome this year."

But does Saban think Swinney could actually leave Clemson after 18 years as head coach?

"It would surprise me," Saban admitted on "College GameDay."

"In my conversation with him, he never mentioned that. I mean, he was totally focused on what his team needs to do to have success."

Two jobs emerging if he does leave

If Swinney were to leave Clemson, two jobs are emerging:

  • Auburn
  • Arkansas

Swinney, who played collegiately at Alabama, has SEC roots. He could be pursued by Auburn, which fired head coach Hugh Freeze. The Tigers have always been desperate to match the success of their in-state rival, Alabama. And after a couple of failed head coaching hires, maybe they would be bold enough to take a big swing at landing a two-time national title-winning head coach in Swinney.

But Arkansas, loaded with Walmart money, could be the bigger dark horse to pry Swinney away from Clemson. The Razorbacks have long been viewed as a bit of a sleeping giant int the SEC. They're a basketball school, too, especially now with Coach Cal leading the program. But don't downplay the possibility of the Razorbacks making a big push with a football hire, too. Swinney would certainly be a massive swing for the SEC program, following some disappointing years.

College football insider Steven Godfrey has floated Swinney to Arkansas as a fun possibility.

Swinney, who has been Clemson's head coach for the past 18 years, is probably not going to be fired by the Tigers. However, if he feels like he's no longer appreciated – similar to Coach Cal at Kentucky – perhaps he would leave on his own.

Where do you see Dabo Swinney landing if he actually decides to leave the Clemson Tigers for another program in 2026?

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Nov 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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