The “Win the One” Mentality Driving Team 130

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has a new theme for the 2025 season, and it’s one he believes can keep his team focused through the highs and lows ahead: Win the One.

“No, it’s just kind of something for our season,” Swinney said when asked if the phrase was specific to the LSU opener. “Every year, I have something that helps me focus, and I think it’s something that’s good for our team. Sometimes you can get overwhelmed with the enormity of what you’ve got to do and what’s to come — expectations, noise, long season. Camp’s coming. There’s a lot. It was just kind of something that was on my heart.”

The message, he says, has two parts: first, be one — one team, one spirit, one purpose. “This is the only Team 130 there will ever be, right? We’ve got to be one,” Swinney said.

Second, win the one — meaning the next rep, the next meeting, the next meal, the next night’s sleep.

“I think that’s how you don’t get overwhelmed. You can be overjoyed if you truly will just win the one. And that’s for life, too — not just football. Win the one meeting. The one night’s sleep. The one decision in front of me. The one practice. The one rep. The one quarter. The one half. The one game. Just win the one.”

For Swinney, it’s a mindset that builds resilience. “Something bad happens? Alright, let’s win the one — this play. It’s a mentality I’m trying to instill because there’s a lot to come, and it’s a long season. You’ve got to have some resiliency,” he said.

The coach also reflected on how quickly time passes when you live that way. “You look up and go, ‘Wow, what happened to that decade? Where’d them 10 years go?’ But when you love what you do and you’re really engaged, you’re not worried about next week. We don’t have to win the 10. Let’s just win the one.”

Swinney’s hope is that the Tigers can carry that approach throughout the entire season. “We’ve got to truly be together, and then just have that mindset of ‘win the one’ right now,” he said.

Clemson opens the 2025 season Aug. 30 against LSU in Death Valley, where “Win the One” will get its first test.