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By Matthew Schmidt
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Clemson Tigers were the gold standard in college football between 2015 and 2019. They made four National Championship Game appearances during that span, capturing a pair of national titles. Dabo Swinney was hailed as a genius, and Clemson was genuinely challenging for the best program in the country.
Since then, though, things have completely unraveled for Swinney and the Tigers, who have now posted three straight seasons of four or more losses and have gone 7-5 this year, representing Clemson's worst mark since Swinney's second campaign in 2010.
Read more: Clemson Tigers WR Strikes Really Weird NIL Deal
Read More on NCAA
Yes, the Tigers qualified for their 21st straight bowl game, but based on the fact that Clemson entered the season with College Football Playoff aspirations, it seems like a hollow victory.
So, what exactly has happened to the Tigers' football program over the last five years?
Well, Swinney's hesitance to dip into the transfer portal and his refusal to get with the times in general have been the most significant factors, and Clemson has fallen behind other schools in this new NIL era as a result.
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Bleacher Report's Brad Shepard recently compiled a list of the top uncommitted recruits heading into early national signing day, and former Clemson recruit Blake Stewart — a three-star safety — made the list.
Shepard did not spare Swinney in his breakdown of Stewart.
"Thanks to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's archaic approach to recruiting, the Tigers may be out of the mix for a high-rising, potential elite playmaker at safety," Shepard wrote. "Blake Stewart recently decommitted from Swinney's Tigers. He wanted to take some looks at other schools, but the program doesn't let its commits visit elsewhere. Now, Stewart—an Atlanta product who goes to Woodward Academy—is no longer a Clemson pledge."
Stewart initially committed to the Tigers in July, but decommitted in late October, representing a rather significant blow to Clemson's 2026 recruiting class.
Read more: Report: Clemson Expecting Surprising Changes in Transfer Portal
While Swinney is almost certainly not going to lose his job this offseason, he could ultimately end up on the hot seat after next season if he doesn't begin to update his strategy.
There was a time when Swinney was viewed by some as an all-time great coach. That doesn't appear to be the case anymore.
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