Dabo Swinney gambles on an offensive revival, bringing back a former OC and navigating a heated quarterback competition to reignite Clemson's championship hopes.
Clemson expected to run it back to the College Football Playoff in 2025 with quarterback Cade Klubnik teaming up with offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.
Instead, the Tigers were out of the CFP race by October, starting the season with a 1-3 record. Clemson finished the season 7-6, including a loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made notable changes to the program, moving on from Riley. The Tigers brought back Chad Morris to run the offense amid a quarterback battle this spring.
Per Andrea Adelson and David Hale of ESPN, the risk Clemson made to bring in Morris is the storyline of the offseason. Morris has not called plays in 2020, and the Tigers will need him to be sharp if they hope to return to the CFP.
"So after parting ways with Riley, Swinney opted to go back to what has worked in the past, bringing in former OC Chad Morris to lead the turnaround," they wrote.
"Morris hasn't called plays since 2020, and hasn't coached at Clemson since 2014, but Swinney thinks a little of the old magic can be rekindled for an offense that has wavered between mediocre and bad since Trevor Lawrence departed following the 2020 season."
The key to the offense will be the quarterback. Christopher Vizzina, Chris Denson, and Tait Reynolds are fighting for the starting job in spring football.
Swinney recently suggested Vizzania is in the "pole position" to start. The Tigers need whoever starts under center to be a true leader of the offense.
Swinney hopes that Vizzania will be the starting quarterback.
“I want to see him take it and run with it,” Swinney said of Vizzina. “As I said, he’s got the pole position, so I want to see him show up every day, not get too high, not get too low, and just show up every single day and prove it. Just bring that edge every day.
“Obviously, you want to see leadership at that position. I think he’s a natural."
After a 7-6 season, Swinney will feel plenty of pressure to compete for an ACC title in the upcoming season. He's banking on the additions of Morris and Rich Bisaccia to improve the team.