Despite what some might say, Dabo Swinney is undeniably one of the top head coaches in modern college football. Swinney’s impressive resume speaks for itself: a 170-43 record, two National Championships against Nick Saban’s Alabama, and eight ACC Championships. This track record underscores his remarkable success and enduring legacy.
Even when considering the last three seasons, which are seen as down years for Swinney, the head coach has still led Clemson to seasons of 10 wins, 10 wins, and 9 wins. By most standards, these so-called down years are quite impressive and highlight Swinney’s consistent excellence in coaching.
Recently, CBS Sports ranked the head coaches in the ACC and Swinney remained the No. 1 coach in the conference.
For all the chatter about Clemson’s supposed downfall, the king remains the king in the ACC. Swinney and the Tigers have claimed seven of the last 12 ACC championships, most recently winning in 2022, and account for every one of the league’s College Football Playoff appearances since 2015. Now there is certainly some urgency for bounce-back as last year’s 4-4 conference record marks the program’s worst since 2010, but expectations of ACC title contention remain heading into 2024.
Swinney deserves to remain the top-ranked coach in the ACC, but after this year, it’s no guarantee. Clemson needs to put together a strong season where they contend for a College Football Playoff spot in the 12-team expansion.