© Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Clemson football season has not unfolded as anticipated in 2025. The team entered the year with national title hopes. They currently have a losing record.
The Tigers suffered their fifth loss of the season against Duke. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s seat has grown warmer.
Clemson began the year firmly positioned as a Top 5 team. It lost its very first game to LSU.
That defeat was a sign of things to come. The Tigers would go onto lose two of their next three games. They’ve limped to a 3-5 start. A bowl game not guaranteed.
It’s continued what many view as a downward trajectory of the program.
Swinney built Clemson into the ACC’s top program, winning two national championships and a slew of conference titles. Success has slipped over the last three seasons.
The Tigers lost three games or less in 11 straight seasons from 2012 to 2022. They’ve lost four games or more each year since.
This year’s five losses are the most since 2010, Swinney’s lone losing season. There could be more to come with Florida State, Louisville, and South Carolina still left on the schedule.
Will Clemson fire Dabo Swinney?
That exact question was asked at his most recent press conference. The coach’s response sparked a major reaction.
“I may get fired today,” he joked. “[AD] Graham [Neff] is sitting there in the back, so I don’t know, can’t say I’d blame him.”
“I might get fired, today.”
I followed up with @ClemsonFB Coach Dabo Swinney about his comments concerning his Tigers future. pic.twitter.com/t6M9YOtTe8
— Carmine Gemei (@CarmineGemei) November 1, 2025
The quip was in reference to the string of midseason firings seen across the sport. It fell flat.
The most notable detail of the exchange was that athletic director Graham Neff was in attendance. His presence in the postgame media room is not typical.
There were some that viewed it as an arrogant challenge towards administration. It was not his first of the season.
“I mean, if Clemson is tired of winning, they can send me on my way, but I’m gonna go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach.
“I’m 55. I got a long way to go. Y’all are gonna have to deal with me for a while.”
-Dabo Swinney after a loss to Georgia Tech
Dabo Swinney is the most successful coach in Clemson football history. He deserves a long leash. He’s earned the right to be flippant when it comes to job security.
He is also paid very highly. Firing him would prove costly.
What is Swinney’s buyout?
The coach signed a 10-year extension in 2021 worth $115 million. It runs through the 2031 season.
Should he be fired without cause prior to that date, he would be owed a buyout. At this point in time, that number sits at $60 million. It is one of the highest in the sport.
That could be a major deterrent in Clemson’s decision making. It’s one of many things working in Swinney’s favor.
Despite that sense of security, The Clemson Insider speculates that “major changes” will be coming to the coaching staff.
Here is their latest update:
We can tell you, through multiple sources, that there is tension in the football complex and major changes are coming to the football staff. Some of these changes may surprise some of you…
Swinney pointed out in his post-game press conference that athletic director Graham Neff was in the room, which we can say is very unusual. TCI learned there is some tension between Swinney and the administration at Clemson…
Administration is pushing him to make some serious changes to his program and Clemson’s head coach is not too happy that others are telling him how to run his program…
Swinney is feeling disrespected.
Over 18 seasons, he’s gone 183-52. He has more national titles than every other Clemson football coach combined.
He is also loyal to a fault and somewhat resistant to change, which many view as the reason for his recent decline.
Dabo Swinney dared his employer to fire him after his latest loss. It would be a major surprise to see the Tigers accept his $60 million challenge.