The Clemson Tigers have received a bold take on their coaching situation ahead of the 2026 season.
The Clemson Tigers could be entering a make-or-break season in 2026. Clemson was expected to be in the College Football Playoff in 2025 and be a contender to win the National Championship, but went just 7-6.
Head coach Dabo Swinney has been successful with the Tigers throughout his career, but another season of underperformance could put him on the hot seat.
In a bold prediction, Stewart Mandel of The Athletic has Clemson firing Swinney in 2026 and replacing him with Alabama's Kalen DeBoer, who has also been predicted to be fired.
This would be a wild shakeup to the college football coaching landscape. Both DeBoer and Swinney are at powerhouse programs, but they have question marks heading into the 2026 campaign.
Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesThe Crimson Tide hasn't found the same success since Nick Saban retired, while Clemson is coming off their worst season since 2010.
However, while this is an interesting prediction, it would take both programs to struggle in 2026 for it to be possible.
Swinney needs to prioritize leading the Tigers to a bounce-back season. There will be plenty of changes, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and replaced him with Chad Morris.
Morris was previously the offensive coordinator at Clemson under Swinney from 2011 to 2014. He will look to stabilize the offensive unit and elevate it to an elite level.
The Tigers will also have a new quarterback under center with Cade Klubnik off to the NFL Draft. Klubnik finished up his senior season, completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He added 94 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Christopher Vizzina is the likely replacement for Klubnik at the quarterback position. Vizzina completed 45 of 71 passes (63.4 percent) for 406 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception in the 2025 season.
How Morris and Vizzina change the offense will determine how the 2026 season goes for Clemson.
While it's unlikely that DeBoer ends up being the Tigers' head coach, Swinney may be in a make-or-break season for his job if Clemson struggles again.
Clemson Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Clemson Tigers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.