After Clemson’s season came to a disappointing end with a 38-24 loss to Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff, questions about potential staff changes naturally arose. The Tigers’ defensive struggles throughout the season were once again on full display, as Texas racked up 494 total yards, including 292 on the ground.
Asked in the postgame press conference if adjustments might be coming to his coaching staff, Dabo Swinney dismissed the idea. “Aw man, we’re not worried about any of that stuff,” Swinney said. “We had a great year, we won the championship. We’ve got to improve in all areas. We’ve got an excellent staff. All those guys work really hard and well together.”
Swinney emphasized that the program’s focus would be on improving holistically, rather than making reactionary changes. “We were good enough to get to the playoff, good enough to win the league. Not good enough to win it all. So, we’ve got to get better in all areas,” he added.
Defensive issues have been a recurring theme for Clemson this season. The Tigers allowed an average of 6.9 yards per play against the Longhorns, struggled to stop the run, and entered the game ranked outside the top 40 in key defensive metrics, including total and scoring defense. While Swinney is standing by his staff for now, the offseason will be pivotal in addressing the areas that held Clemson back from competing at the highest level.