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Jordan Sigler

By Jordan Sigler

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A few college football fan bases are already calling for a coaching change after Week 1.

Arguably the worst loss of the weekend was Clemson, who looked wildly out of its depth when playing LSU on the road. Clemson was defeated 51-10 by LSU, and it didn't appear like Dabo Swinney's team had anyone on its roster who could compete with Lane Kiffin's new squad in Baton Rouge.

Sports analyst Colin Cowherd called out Swinney for the loss, arguing that it was a fireable offense for the Clemson head coach not to use the transfer portal to add elite talent.

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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers walks on the sidelines during their game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Memorial Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

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"To not embrace the portal and NIL--and I like Dabo--is a fireable offense," Cowherd said on his podcast on Tuesday. "It might be time for Dabo to go. He has dug his feet in. Like that was humiliating, was it not?

Swinney received criticism for not adding a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal this offseason, opting for a quarterback battle between Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds. The two quarterbacks combined to go 14 of 22 passing for 105 yards and one interception.

The running game didn't help them out. Clemson rushed for 40 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.

During the ACC Kickoff media event in July, Swinney acknowledged that he'd be raked over the coals if his quarterbacks didn't play well this season. After Saturday's game, it appears like the quarterback situation is a disaster, but it's not the only part of the roster that is lacking. The trenches are a mess on both sides of the ball.

Swinney's $57 million buyout could save him this season.

John Middlekauff pointed out to Cowherd that Swinney is struggling to have success after his former offensive coordinator Tony Elliott left to become the head coach of Virginia and his former defensive coordinator Brent Venables became the head coach of Oklahoma.

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