Swinney on CFB future: 'My focus is on Clemson, and it's been that way from day one'
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The college football landscape has been abuzz with seismic shifts and conference realignment drama, leaving fans and pundits speculating about the future of the sport. Amidst the chaos nationally, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney took to the podium yesterday as the Tigers kicked off Fall Camp. During the session, Swinney was asked to shed light on his perspective as the winds of change continued to blow.
"It's a lot going on, man, for sure. Obviously, the administrators they've got a lot happening. My job is to get the team ready to play. That's my job. I don't get caught up in all that stuff," Swinney stated.
The recent bombshell of the Pac-12's looming demise, with Oregon and Washington jumping ship to join Southern Cal and UCLA in the Big Ten in 2024, plus Utah and Arizona State now joining Arizona and Colorado in the revamped Big 12 over the past 24 hours.
With these major shifts, the Pac-12 is left with a mere shadow of its former self, boasting just four teams: Washington State, Oregon State, Stanford, and Cal. Meanwhile, college football discussions continue to evolve, raising concerns about financial disparities and competitive balance for the ACC.
"It's just the next domino to where it's all going. It just is what it is," Swinney remarked, accepting the ever-evolving nature of college sports.
Swinney continued, "I don't know if it's going to be this year, mid-season, next year, or three years from now, but eventually we're going to have— I don't know what the number is, it'd be 40, 50, 54 teams, something like that. It's going to be a 14-16 team playoff type of deal, and that's where it's going to be."
Conference realignment discussions have been at the forefront of college football discourse, raising questions about financial implications and competitive advantages. However, Swinney's focus remains on his team and their performance on the gridiron.
"There's a lot of conversation about our league, TV contracts, and things like that, and listen, those things are important. That's what administrators do; they plan. People are always evaluating the landscape, and things change. That's kind of where college football is right now," Swinney acknowledged.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has a Media Rights deal that doesn't expire until 2032. This long-term commitment provides a sense of stability, though Clemson fans have raised concerns about the financial gap. Swinney, however, exudes confidence in the face of these challenges.
"At the end of the day, we spend a lot of time focusing on what we don't have, but I focus on what we do have. As long as we get those 85 scholarships, we're gonna be awesome here at Clemson," Swinney noted.
Acknowledging the importance of discussions surrounding conference realignment and financial implications, Swinney stated, "There's a lot of talk— and again not to minimize those things, because there are long-term implications and it's very important competitively and things like that. You don't want to minimize those things, but I’m going on my 15th year here. There's a lot of talk, there's a lot of conversation, and a lot of narratives, but guess what? It really hasn't changed a whole lot since 15 years ago. My job is to take what we got and go beat what they got.”
Swinney brings a wealth of experience and perspective to the table. "In my 15 years here, there's always been a gap. We've never had the top TV contract, ever. I think from an athletic budget standpoint, I think in my time here at Clemson, we've been somewhere— I think we were 17th this year. We've been somewhere from 17 to 40, depending on the year. That's where we've been."
Clemson's consistent success on the field, despite not always having the biggest resources or the highest-ranked recruiting classes, speaks volumes about the culture that Swinney has instilled within the program.
"You guys that follow us, y'all know, we've never had a No. 1 recruiting class. We usually are somewhere around 8 to 14. That's usually where we always are," Swinney quipped, emphasizing that the Tigers' accomplishments are a testament to their collective effort.
With a clear focus on his team's performance, Swinney stated, "Not to minimize those things, the conversation of those things, but I don't control any of that. It's a complete waste of my time to worry about that. My focus is on Clemson, and it's been that way from day one."
The future of college football may be uncertain, with conferences shifting and financial dynamics changing, but Swinney remains resolute in his dedication to his team's success.
"I have no idea what the future holds, but I do know that Clemson is a special place. It's going to always be a special place,” Swinney noted. “Whatever administrators decide, my job is to put a football team together and go win.”
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