CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney maintains a familiar outlook this season amid the customary scrutiny surrounding his coaching philosophy. He sees his journey in the sport as cyclical, with a consistent pattern of being underestimated only to secure another successful season. “I’ve faced criticism since I took over this program,” Swinney noted. “So really, not much has changed.”

The Tigers, currently seeded 12th with an overall record of 10-3, are participating in the College Football Playoffs for the seventh time in the 11 years of this playoff format. They are set to compete against fourth-seeded Texas (11-2), with the winner moving on to face No. 4 Arizona State in the quarterfinals.

Throughout his lengthy tenure, which began as an interim coach during the 2008 season, Swinney has dealt with a variety of criticisms, touching on aspects from his personal faith to his past opinions regarding player compensation. One notable controversy arose in 2020 when he donned a “Football Matters” shirt while widespread protests occurred in the wake of George Floyd’s death, which some interpreted as being out of touch.

The campaign, initiated by the National Football Foundation, later evolved into “Future For Football.” In more recent seasons, the most intense discussions have revolved around Swinney’s apparent hesitance to utilize the transfer portal effectively, aside from hiring a backup quarterback strictly for depth in practice.