Will Dabo Swinney make staff changes before bowl game? What's next for Clemson football
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CLEMSON — Clemson football has one more game left in the 2025 season, but coach Dabo Swinney has plenty to accomplish from now until the bowl game.
The Tigers (7-5) avoided tying their worst regular-season finish under Swinney with their 28-10 win vs. South Carolina on Nov. 29 at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Clemson will play in a bowl game for the 21st year in a row after starting the season 1-3, but it is still a disappointment as the Tigers will play at a non-College Football Playoff destination for the fourth time in five seasons.
Clemson entered 2025 as ACC favorites and a national championship contender but will miss both. The Tigers tied for seventh place in the ACC standings and suffered their most losses under Swinney since 2010.
“I know everybody’s disappointed that we didn’t make the ACC championship game this year, and that’s my fault,” Swinney said Nov. 29. “I didn’t get it done.”
Swinney vowed Clemson will win more championships. Here’s what he must consider to set the Tigers back on the right path.
Will Dabo Swinney make staff changes at Clemson?
Clemson is on a four-game win streak, but that doesn’t mean change won’t come. The Tigers went on a four-game win streak in 2023, too, after starting 4-4, but Swinney fired offensive line coach Thomas Austin and parted ways with defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall before their bowl game.
It could be a similar situation in December as Clemson’s offense and defense struggled throughout the season. The Tigers were 97th in rushing offense, struggling to establish the run consistently against opponents, and 115th on third-down conversions.
Clemson’s run defense improved mightily, but its pass defense regressed, ranking 98th. The Tigers’ secondary had multiple coverage busts throughout the season and allowed two big passing plays against South Carolina in Week 14.
These trends may cause Swinney to consider staff changes with multiple assistants being let go.
Will Clemson be active in transfer portal again?
Swinney brought in three portal players this season, the most at Clemson ever, and each had an impact in games.
With the Tigers losing multiple players to expiring eligibility and other players potentially departing for the NFL, Swinney may have to use the portal to bring in instant-impact talent like edge rusher Will Heldt provided in 2025.
There is a one-time portal window that opens from Jan. 2-16 for all FBS and FCS players, but Clemson can begin identifying players who announce they will enter. Some needs for Swinney are at quarterback, running back, safety, defensive end and offensive line.
What Clemson players are returning for 2026, opting out of bowl game
Wide receiver Antonio Williams already announced he will enter the 2026 NFL Draft, but Clemson awaits other decisions from edge rushers T.J. Parker and Heldt, cornerback Avieon Terrell and defensive tackle Peter Woods.
If any of them announce they are leaving, they will have to decide if they will play in the team’s bowl game or not. Clemson also has seniors who may want to prepare for the draft, too, like quarterback Cade Klubnik and right tackle Blake Miller.
Swinney said he doesn’t expect any bowl-game opt outs but acknowledged “anything can happen.”
Who is Dabo Swinney adding for Clemson on signing day?
Early national signing day is Dec. 3, and Clemson has 20 recruits committed to its 2026 class, including 10 four-stars, nine three-star commits and one player who isn’t rated.
The Tigers’ class is ranked 18th nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. It is a much-needed change from last year’s cycle, which finished with 15 signees and ranked 26th nationally. It was Swinney’s lowest-rated cycle since 2010 and his smallest class since 2017 after suffering seven decommitments.
Clemson suffered three decommitments this cycle, but Swinney looks to maintain his current class and possibly add more recruits leading up to December signing day.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Will Dabo Swinney staff change before Clemson football bowl game?
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