Amid mounting early-season losses, the Clemson Tigers coach addresses the bittersweet cancellation of the Georgia rivalry as shifting conference schedules force a retreat from high-stakes non-conference showdowns.
The Clemson Tigers have lost four of their season openers in a row, including in a 51-10 blowout loss to LSU in Week 1.
That wasn't the only blowout during that stretch. The Tigers were defeated 28-7 by Duke and 34-3 by Georgia in 2024.
Following the loss to LSU in Week 1, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney suggested that it might have been more beneficial for his athletic department to schedule a more favorable Week 1 opponent than LSU.
"So we needed to play games," Swinney said. "Again, I wish we had a game or two where you can work the kinks out, but that’s not the stick we drew."
Swinney's argument certainly didn't make the Tigers' and Georgia's decision to cancel their series any harder. The Bulldogs play Georgia Tech at the end of the season, around the same time Clemson plays South Carolina.
On Tuesday, Swinney told reporters that he hated the fact that adding more conference games to the schedule means Clemson and Georgia will have to nix the series.
"I hate it, because I just think it's great for fans, and I get it,” Swinney said, via Nick Coppola of the Greenville News. "We've been playing 10 forever around here, but going to 9 conference games, a lot of these leagues are going.
"I wish it was less. I wish everybody played 7 conference games, and then you had more crossover games all throughout college football, but it is what it is."
What it certainly is, is Clemson avoiding having to put Georgia on its schedule early in the season.
The Tigers would have been in much better shape this season had they scheduled a cupcake instead of LSU in Week 1. While Clemson has not played well since, the Tigers would be 3-0 before facing a California team that has a first-year head coach.
The more losses Clemson can avoid earlier in the season, the longer it can stay relevant in the College Football Playoff conversation.
It's just a fact that the Tigers have been hurt more by playing tough Week 1 games than their opponents. Instead of winning those games, it's easier to punt.
Going to an easier schedule isn't better for college football. And it certainly isn't better for Clemson, who needs to build a program capable of beating elite programs early in the season.
