RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Clemson Tigers remain one of college football ‘s most polarizing programs. Once one of the sport’s premier powers, Clemson hasn’t appeared in a national championship game in since the 2019 season.
The Tigers last reached the College Football Playoff in 2024, where they were eliminated in their first game. Since then, head coach Dabo Swinney has faced increasing scrutiny for his steadfast approach to recruiting and his use of NIL. One analyst, however, has grown especially tired of both Swinney and Clemson’s fan base.
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Paul Finebaum was asked to name the worst fan base in college football during an appearance on The Film Guy Network . He didn’t hesitate with his answer.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks after the Tigers’ 28-14 win over the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, November 29, 2025. | The Greenville News via Imagn Images “Overall, Clemson fans are just absurd because they think they’re relevant,” Finebaum said.
“I get asked a couple of times a year, ‘What do you think about Dabo Swinney?’ My answer is the same. They all start tweeting, ‘Oh man, Dabo Swinney living rent-free in Paul Finebaum’s brain.’ Dabo Swinney isn’t living rent-free … I mean, Shane Beamer’s beat this guy.”
Irrelevant Clemson Tigers?
Finebaum added more fuel to the fire by pointing to South Carolina’s recent victory over Clemson, although that win came two seasons ago. Despite the comparison, Finebaum has also been critical of Beamer, the Gamecocks’ head coach.
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He appears to be an even bigger critic of Swinney.
Dec 27, 2025; Bronx, NY, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney walks with players before the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The Tigers endured a disappointing 2025 season in which several things went wrong. Their star quarterback, Cade Klubnik, struggled before suffering a season-ending injury and since moved on to the NFL. Defensively, Clemson also failed to play up to its usual standard at times.
Still, much of the criticism has centered on Swinney and his approach to recruiting. Since the start of the NIL era, however, Clemson has compiled a 47-20 record, including two bowl victories.
While that falls short of the national championship standard Clemson established during its peak, Swinney has kept the program competitive. Even so, 2026 shapes up as a pivotal season as the Tigers attempt to reclaim the ACC and return to CFP contention.
Can Swinney and the Tigers make a push back to the CFP?
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