Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shared his thoughts on where college football stands.
The Clemson Tigers had a disappointing season in 2025, missing the College Football Playoff and finishing 7-6.
Head coach Dabo Swinney is ready to lead a bounce-back season in 2026, but commented on the ongoing chaos in college football.
"The only thing worse than having no rules is having rules you can't enforce or don't enforce," Swinney said. "I don't think any of us thought we'd be in a world where there's no order. It's a much bigger conversation now. Even in the NFL, there are rules. You can't sign with the Browns and go practice for two weeks and the Dolphins call you up and say, 'Hey man, what are they paying you? Hey, we'll pay you a million more. Come on down here to the Dolphins.' And then you go in there and say, 'Hey boys, I'm out.'"
College football has grown more complicated in recent years with NIL and the transfer portal, as well as controversial cases like Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby's eligibility.
Swinney hasn't used the transfer portal much during his time as Clemson's head coach, as he's leaned on his recruiting classes.
Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesHowever, the Tigers were more aggressive in the transfer portal in 2026, as they needed to add more talent and adapt to have a chance at a bounce-back year.
Swinney added edge rusher London Merritt and running back Chris Johnson Jr., in addition to other pieces.
Merritt should have an impact for the Tigers, as he was productive at Colorado in his freshman season, finishing with 25 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Johnson Jr. should be a quality piece in the backfield for Clemson, as he rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries for SMU in 2025. He also hauled in 17 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown.
While college football is changing and there may be some rules that Swinney and others question, he remains the coach of the program for the long term and will maximize the roster with transfer portal additions to contend in the 2026 season.
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