Dabo Swinney takes shots at Paul Finebaum, no care for what he has to say

A seven-win season hasn’t changed Dabo Swinney’s confidence in Clemsonfootball’s future.

The Tigers head coach recently sat down with On3’s Chris Low and addressed the criticism that has followed Clemson’s 7-6 campaign. Swinney said he’s heard the outside opinions before and isn’t interested in letting them shape how he views the program.

“When I got hired (in 2009) and I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to win the national championship,’ everybody laughed at me. I’m sure they’re laughing now. But, again, it ain’t about what everybody says about you. It ain’t about what ESPN thinketh,” Swinney told On3. “It ain’t about what Paul Finebaum sayeth. It’s about what you see. A lot of people have always seen me as a (D-plus), but it’s about what we see. It’s about how we think.

“That’s the only thing that ever matters.”

Swinney also pushed back on the idea that Clemson’s best days are behind it. He noted that he’s still relatively young compared to where Nick Saban was when he arrived at Alabama and believes there is plenty left to accomplish.

“I’m right about the same age Nick (Saban) was when he got to Alabama. So I’m just getting going, man. I love a challenge, and again, all we’ve done is win,” Swinney said.

The comments sparked discussion from Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman, who pointed out that Clemson is now measured against the championship standard Swinney created. Winning conference titles and double-digit games may have once been enough, but expectations changed after national championships and College Football Playoff appearances became the norm.

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That reality comes with the territory. Swinney’s accomplishments have earned him plenty of trust, but they have also raised the bar. As Clemson tries to bounce back in 2026, the debate isn’t really about what critics think. It’s whether the Tigers can get back to the level that made them one of college football’s premier programs in the first place.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says Paul Finebaum’s opinion isn’t the law