Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers kicked off the season with their highest preseason ranking—fourth—since 2022. With quarterback Cade Klubnik returning after a promising junior season and bolstered by a stellar receiving group and a defense filled with NFL talent, the Tigers were perceived as serious title contenders, at least making them a shoo-in for the College Football Playoffs.

However, the season took a troubling turn. The Tigers suffered a 17-10 defeat against LSU in their opener, trailed 16-0 against Troy before staging a comeback to win 27-16, and most recently fell to Georgia Tech 24-21. It marks Clemson’s first 1-2 start since 2014.

When asked about the mounting criticism on Tuesday, Swinney asserted “no” and delivered an eight-minute response emphasizing the importance of perspective. Swinney stated, “If they want me gone, they’re tired of winning, they can send me on the way, because that’s all we’ve done is win. If they’re tired of winning, we’ve won this league eight out of the last ten years. Is that not good?” He reflected on their strong years in the league, noting their playoff appearances and titles.

“Yeah, we’re a little down right now, but I have a long memory. This program is built to last,” he added. The pressure is now on as the Tigers prepare to face Syracuse, while questions linger about their performance and effectiveness to bounce back.