As Clemson’s 2025 season draws near, excitement is building both inside and outside the program. After a season of ups and downs that culminated with a run to the CFB Playoffs, Tiger fans and college football observers are again pointing to Dabo Swinney’s squad as a team to watch. But when asked about the renewed buzz and high expectations surrounding this year’s group, Swinney’s response in our exclusive one-on-one interview at the ACC Kickoff was classic Dabo: a mix of perspective and humor with an unwavering focus on the work ahead.
“Well, I mean, it's amazing, just like the weather, wait 12 months and anything can change, right?” Swinney said. “Like last year, we weren't picked to win the league, and our quarterback stunk, and now 12 months later, we’ve got the Heisman Trophy, and we've got 22 first-rounders, and we're gonna blow everybody out,” he quipped.
It’s classic Dabo, lightheartedly poking fun at the extremes of public perception. The Clemson head coach has seen both sides of it during his tenure, from the highs of national championships to the lows of public doubt. But through it all, he insists on the same message: stay grounded, and focus on what you can control.
“It's amazing how things change. That's why you've got to be grounded, and you've got to have a good perspective. Whether they're talking bad about you or talking good about you. You really can't focus on that stuff,” Swinney explained. “You're not gonna predict your way, and nobody else is gonna predict you into winning a championship or any of that other stuff. You've got to go do it, and you've got to earn it.”
The excitement surrounding the 2025 Tigers is palpable from the outside, but for Swinney, it’s about what happens next week—when the team hits the field and begins the real work on July 31.
“That's the part I love. That's where we get started next week and get on the grass and get to go start doing it,” he said.
Swinney didn’t shy away from the optimism surrounding his roster. “This is a good football team. I mean, there's no doubt about it. We've got a proven quarterback that people believe in. We've got good skill, got dudes in the trenches, got a kicker that can win a game for you. I think we've got good guys on the back seven. I love our staff, but it's also a team from an intangible standpoint. They're close.”
He went on to highlight the rare cohesion within this Clemson group, a quality that stands out in the current college football climate.
“I mean, this is an era where guys could leave anytime they want, and they all chose they like the place, and they really love each other. I'm excited about doing the work. Need a little bit of luck along the way. Nobody really wants to talk about that, but our best teams, our best players have been available.”
As hype and hope swirl around Clemson, Dabo Swinney’s words serve as a timely reminder: talk only matters so much. For the Tigers, the chance to prove it is almost here, and Swinney wouldn’t have it any other way.
