The success Dabo Swinney has brought to Clemson can’t be understated, but with that comes a bar that keeps raising higher.
For all the criticisms Swinney and the Tigers have faced in recent years, here they are back in the College Football Playoff. Among all the notable coaches leading their programs into the new 12-team format, Swinney is under some of the most pressure according to The Athletic.
Little ol’ Clemson is back. The Tigers aren’t what they used to be, but they’re on the big stage again, and frankly, Swinney seems to fit the underdog role much better than the favorite.
It took a couple of small miracles for Clemson to get here, so you’d think it’s all extra from here. Fact is, Clemson still has a championship pedigree, and getting bounced in the first round at Texas would further cement Swinney’s program as a fading superpower.
Pressure meter: 3.5
Swinney was ranked No. 4 in pressure leading into the playoff and his coaching adversary, Steve Sarkisan, came in at No. 5. Clemson takes on the Longhorns with a chance to truly re-ignite the dynasty on the national stage and turn the pressure into a gem of a season.