Clemson will be without a playmaker for the rest of the season.
Clemson will be without one of its top running backs for Saturday’s College Football Playoff showdown against Texas.
Head coach Dabo Swinney announced Monday that Jay Haynes, the team’s second-string back, is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL during the ACC Championship Game victory over SMU. Haynes underwent surgery earlier in the day.
The injury occurred in the third quarter when Haynes took a direct hit to the knee on a kickoff return. Before the setback, the redshirt freshman had five carries for 15 yards in the game. This season, he totaled 295 rushing yards and three touchdowns while serving as a key backup to Phil Mafah.
With Mafah also dealing with injuries, Clemson will rely on other running backs like Keith Adams Jr., Jarvis Green, and David Eziomume. Eziomume, who redshirted this season, can participate in postseason games.
Former Georgia assistant cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff
Former Georgia Bulldogs assistant Fran Brown has transformed the Syracuse Orange from an ACC afterthought into a legitimate ACC contender in just one season.
Brown turned a 6-7 team into a 9-3 team thanks to excellent transfers, including former Ohio State Buckeye quarterback Kyle McCord and former Bulldog wide receiver Jackson Meeks.
The Orange’s best victory came against No. 6 Miami, against which Syracuse came back from down 21-0 to win 42-38. Syracuse’s win was huge for the Clemson Tigers, who needed Miami to lose to make the ACC championship and to have a shot at making the College Football Playoff.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney offered to honor Brown if Clemson wins the national title.
“Man, if we win the national championship, (Fran Brown) is gonna be riding in the car with me through downtown Clemson,” said Swinney.
“I’m very happy for (Dabo) and his team… but with that being said… Go Dawgs,” said Brown in a recent interview.
There’s a scenario in which Georgia and Clemson meet in the national and Bulldogs fans are surely hoping the rematch would be similar to the 34-3 Georgia blowout win on opening weekend.
The Clemson Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff after a four-year absence and will meet the Texas Longhorns in a first-round game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
Clemson (10-3) punched its ticket to the playoffs with a thrilling 34-31 win over the SMU Mustangs in last week’s ACC Championship Game. Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser drilled a 56-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to lift the Tigers to an incredible victory.
It was Clemson’s 22nd ACC title in school history and for Dabo Swinney, his ninth in 17 years as Tigers coach.
Awaiting Clemson is a Texas (11-2) team that lost 22-19 to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game last Saturday — a rematch where both teams were already a virtual playoff lock.
On Friday, USA TODAY Sports’ college football experts released their early predictions for every 2024-25 postseason game, including Clemson-Texas. All six members of USA TODAY’s panel — Paul Myerberg, Dan Wolken, Eddie Timanus, Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza and Erick Smith — picked the Longhorns to win.
Kickoff for Clemson vs. Texas is set for 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 21. The game will be televised on TNT. It will mark the first ever meeting between the Tigers and Longhorns on the gridiron.
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ESPN analyst on Clemson’s chances in the College Football Playoff against Texas.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has shared his picks for every bowl game this postseason (subscription required), including the 12-team College Football Playoff. For Clemson’s first-round matchup against Texas, he’s predicting a 24-16 win for the Longhorns.
Rittenberg praised Clemson’s turnaround after being counted out earlier in the season but noted the challenge they face in Texas’ stout defense. The Longhorns have been dominant all year, allowing just 12.1 points per game and excelling at shutting down the run and pressuring quarterbacks. He believes those strengths will be the difference, even with Cade Klubnik—an Austin native—leading Clemson in front of a hometown crowd.
Rittenberg expects Texas tight end Gunnar Helm to play a big role, catching two touchdowns from Quinn Ewers as the Longhorns eventually clamp down on the Tigers’ offense. The game will kick off on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. ET on TNT, marking the first-ever meeting between these two storied programs.
As for the rest of the playoff, Rittenberg has Notre Dame, Penn State, and Ohio State advancing, with Oregon ultimately defeating the Irish to claim the national title.
Bill Belichick and another legendary football coach will face off in Kenan Stadium.
All the current hype in college football surrounds the North Carolina Tar Heels – and they aren’t even playing in the College Football Playoff.
UNC will face UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday, the sixth-straight season UNC will play postseason football, but there’s something much larger capturing everyone’s attention.
North Carolina hired longtime NFL legend Bill Belichick as its head coach on Wednesday, December 11. Belichick entered the Tar Heels’ head-coaching search late in the process – as a surprise candidate – but wound up with the job.
Belichick’s hiring is already catching the eye of several big-name recruits, include the Class of 2026’s top-ranked quarterback and a former 5-star defensive lineman.
Speaking of big names, Belichick will face one of the best coaches in college football during UNC’s 2025 football season.
The coach in reference here is Dabo Swinney, Clemson‘s longtime head man, who led his teams to the 2016 and 2018 National Championships. The Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020 (2021 Sugar Bowl), when they lost to Ohio State.
The Bill Belichick vs Dabo Swinney matchup next year will be must see
North Carolina doesn’t know when it will play Clemson, but we do know Clemson will be traveling to Kenan Stadium. Belichick will help the Tar Heels try and snap a 6-game losing streak to the Tigers, who are the standard for ACC football.
Belichick knows a thing or two about big matchups himself, as he won Six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and appeared in the playoffs 19 times (once with the Cleveland Browns).
Facing Clemson will be a great “welcome to college football” moment for Belichick. Then again, the greatest coach of all time doesn’t need any introduction.
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Clemson football’s trip to Austin for the College Football Playoff brings things full circle for head coach Dabo Swinney. Shortly after becoming Clemson’s head coach in 2009, Swinney sought guidance from seasoned coaches to help him navigate his new role. Among those he contacted, only Mack Brown, then the head coach at Texas, agreed to meet with him.
“I actually called around to a lot of coaches, and the only guy that would let me come visit was Mack Brown,” Swinney shared. “He didn’t know me, but he welcomed me and my staff for a few days.”
The visit left a lasting impression on Swinney, who credits Brown’s advice for helping him grow as a leader. “It was transformational,” Swinney said. “He went above and beyond, spending hours with me and confirming many of the ideas I had as a young coach.”
Over two days in Austin, Brown answered Swinney’s questions, often finishing his thoughts before Swinney could even ask. The mentorship provided Swinney with the confidence to shape Clemson’s program, and he still references the notes he took during that visit. “It gave me a different way to think about things and reinforced what I believed we needed to do moving forward.”
Now, as Swinney prepares to face Texas, it’s more than a playoff matchup—it’s a return to the place that played a pivotal role in his journey to becoming one of college football’s most successful head coaches.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney got a nice bonus after the Tigers won the 2024 ACC Championship.
According to USA TODAY’s annual Coaches Compensation Report, Dabo Swinney remains one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, ranking second nationally with $11,132,755 in total compensation for the 2024 season. Only Georgia’s Kirby Smart, earning $13,282,590, surpasses Swinney. Both are the only active head coaches with national championships in the College Football Playoff era.
Swinney’s current contract, a 10-year, $115 million deal signed in 2022, includes $11,008,575 in school pay, $175,000 in bonuses, and a maximum bonus potential of $1.5 million. His buyout stands at $60 million, ranking fifth among college coaches.
However, contracts also come with incentives. Swoinney cashed in big on winning the ACC Championship, earning an extra $200,000 for the achievement. It’s a huge payday for Swinney, who already boasts one of the most impressive contracts in College Football.
A well-earned payday for one of the best head coaches in sports.
The Clemson Head Coach took time to speak with members of the media following the announcement that the Longhorns would host the 12th seeded Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The College Football Playoff committee unveiled the new 12-team bracket on Sunday, setting the stage for a first-round clash between the No. 5 Texas Longhorns and No. 12 Clemson Tigers on Dec. 21.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney met with reporters shortly after the announcement, offering insights into the matchup and highlighting the unique connections between the two programs.
Here are key takeaways from Swinney’s remarks as the Tigers prepare for their playoff showdown with Texas:
Swinney’s first reaction wasn’t even about the team itself. His excitement was in a five-word message about the Minister of Culture.
“I’m gonna meet Matthew McConaughey!” Swinney said.
What stands out about Texas:
“I haven’t even had my chance to put my eyes on them other than just what I’ve seen like everyone else, on TV, but they were a final four team last year, and now they’re back in the playoffs, so I think Sark’s done an amazing job. They’ve got a great roster, a very, very talented roster. They’ve got elite quarterback play, explosive players outside. This is a complete football team in every sense of the word. They’re good enough to win the whole thing, and we’ll have our hands full, for sure, but excited to go compete.”
Cade Klubnik’s Austin Homecoming:
“When Texas came up, it was just kind of like, ‘Oh, this is amazing,’ because there’s a lot of storylines, (Klubnik) is obviously from Austin, went to Westlake there, and one of the best quarterbacks to come out of the state of Texas. But also him and Quinn went head-to-head a lot in high school. It’s all about the game but that’s just kind of a cool storyline for our quarterback. You just never know how things are going to work out in this crazy game of college football. For him to be going to his first playoff, because we didn’t make it in ’22, we won the league, but didn’t make it, and then last year we didn’t make it, so (having) his first playoff game in Austin, Texas, where he grew up, you can’t make that up.”
Swinney on facing Mukuba in the College Football Playoffs.
Clemson football’s College Football Playoff matchup against Texas will bring an interesting twist: the Tigers will face one of their former players, Andrew Mukuba. The defensive back, who spent three seasons at Clemson, now plays a key role in the Longhorns’ secondary.
After announcing the playoff field, Dabo Swinney shared his thoughts on Mukuba during a media call. Mukuba joined Clemson’s 2021 recruiting class during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, an experience Swinney vividly recalled.
“I have so much love for that kid,” Swinney said. “He committed without ever stepping foot on campus because of COVID restrictions. The first time I met him was when he arrived here. It was such a strange time, but his energy and heart were incredible. He made a big impression from day one.”
Mukuba wasted no time becoming a difference-maker. As a freshman, he started Clemson’s season opener, a rare feat, and earned national and conference honors for his performance. Over his career with the Tigers, he tallied 149 tackles, 20 pass breakups, and an interception, becoming a key figure in the secondary.
“He gave us everything he had,” Swinney said. “I wish his journey could’ve finished here, but he wanted to go back home, and I respect that. He’s an excellent player, and I’m thrilled he’s doing so well this year. He’s had an outstanding season.”
At Texas, Mukuba has continued to shine. He’s appeared in all 12 games, starting nine, and has racked up 52 tackles, four interceptions, 10 passes defended, and a forced fumble—proving to be a major contributor to the Longhorns’ success.
Dabo Swinney has always been aware of the criticism, but his focus on Clemson football’s unique approach has never wavered.
With the Tigers back in the College Football Playoff after a thrilling 34-31 ACC Championship win over SMU, Swinney reflected on the program’s consistency and its place among the sport’s elite.
“This is our seventh CFP, our ninth ACC title in 14 years, and 13 seasons with double-digit wins,” he noted. “People expect us to conform, but we’ve built something different, and it works.”
Swinney highlighted Clemson’s unmatched 14 consecutive postseason victories and its success on the national stage. “We’ve beaten the best, yet the narrative doesn’t change. We keep proving ourselves year after year.”
Acknowledging that no program is perfect, Swinney credited the team’s belief, culture, and resilience. “We’re not flawless, but we’re a family. That’s what makes this so special,” he said, underscoring his commitment to staying true to his vision.
