ESPN personality Paul Finebaum once again weighed in on Dabo Swinney and Clemson after the Tigers’ latest defeat – a 24-17 loss to NC State on Saturday in Raleigh.

That dropped the record of Swinney’s team to 4-4 on the season and 2-4 in ACC play. This is the first time since 2011 that Clemson has lost four games in a season and the first time since 2010 that the Tigers have lost four ACC games in a season.

Finebaum blasted Swinney last week after the double-overtime loss at Miami, and this week, Finebaum called Swinney and Clemson “the saddest story” of the 2023 college football season.

“The saddest story in college football this year is Dabo Swinney and Clemson. And there’s not a single person outside of that area code who is feeling sorry,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “This is a coach who has thumbed his nose at the norms of where we are today – I’m not saying the traditions, I’m saying where the game is – and he has made countless mistakes, and it’s now blowing up.”

Finebaum has asserted on multiple occasions that “Dabo’s dynasty is done,” and he questions whether Swinney can get his program back to the upper echelon of college football where it’s been accustomed to being over the last decade.

Finebaum posed the question, ‘Is this program done, and quite frankly, is Dabo Swinney done?’

“I think the real question for Dabo Swinney and Clemson is, can he get it back? I mean, these are not easy things to get back,” Finebaum said. “Nebraska has been in the wilderness for 25 years, other programs have been out there, and it’s very possible that the program, along with Alabama, of the last 10 years in college football, may be done. Forget the dynasty being done. You can’t even say that anymore, that’s not a legitimate question. But is this program done, and quite frankly, is Dabo Swinney done?

“And I know that sounds harsh and I know it sounds like a rush to judgement. But every time he talks, he sticks his foot deeper down his mouth. I mean that statement a couple days ago, a week ago about the fans, they’ll find out, what if we lost a couple of games. Well, he has now. They’re going to have to fight for a bowl game, and this is just unbelievable when you think about it.”

Finebaum added that it’s “staggering” to see Swinney “fall this dramatically” after leading Clemson to six straight College Football Playoff appearances from 2015-20, four national championship game appearances and national titles in 2016 and 2018.

“He had such a recruiting base too, and I think that’s where he was winning. I’m not suggesting that that’s gone off the deep end. He’s still recruiting well. But it’s more difficult, and I think you have to be concerned,” Finebaum said. “I’m not taking anything away from what he’s accomplished. The guy has won two national championships. He’s played for four national championships. He’s been in the playoffs (six) times, and he’s produced legendary talent from Deshaun Watson to Trevor Lawrence to a million guys on the defensive line.

“But I don’t know when I’ve seen someone really at the top of the game fall this dramatically, this quickly, and not really be in their 70s or something where all of a sudden you just hit that age and it’s a crash and burn. This guy’s barely 50 I think, and it’s staggering to watch what has happened. And it seems like it happened overnight, although I really do think this has been trending now for a couple of years.”