Clemson Tigers fans have always believed their team could win it all, but recent performances have raised questions about whether they are still one of the absolute best programs in college football.
No offense to Dabo Swinney, as he has already built a powerhouse at Clemson, proving he can win titles even during Nick Saban’s dynasty. However, CFB analyst Josh Pate is now questioning whether Clemson has the dominance needed to go all the way again in 2025.
CFB Analyst Josh Pate Speaks on Whether Dabo Swinney Can Win the 2025 Title
Swinney has already established himself among college football’s elite, but could winning a third national championship in 2025 take his legacy to another level? Pate, speaking on “Josh Pate’s College Football Show,” didn’t hold back in assessing what another title would mean for the Clemson head coach.
“What I wonder is, can Kirby win the national championship without the best team? Because he’s proven he can win the national championship with the best team. Some coaches can’t do that, to be honest with you. That happens. But can he go and win the national championship with a team that is not the best team in college football?” Pate asked.
Swinney has previously fought through the Nick Saban dynasty and won two championships, surpassing expectations. In a time when Clemson’s strategy is being questioned, it would be a huge statement if he won another title.
“He will have gone toe to toe with number one, Nick Saban, and beaten him twice for the two national titles that he has. And then if he wins a third one this year, he will have done so in the face of everyone, including me, who told him that his ways and his approach to the new era of college football would not yield that kind of fruit anymore. And if he does that, I don’t know that anyone has ever accomplished more.”
Josh Pate argues that Swinney’s success would stand out not just for the titles but for the era in which he won them. His ability to stick to his methods despite shifts in the sport could add another layer to his historic résumé.
“If Dabo won a national title this year, and you remove Nick Saban, I think he’s in the conversation with any other coach that’s ever coached this game. I would think that highly of him,” the CFB analyst added.
Winning a third championship would elevate Swinney beyond Clemson’s greatest, placing him among college football’s most legendary figures.
His career record is 180-47, making him the most successful coach in Clemson’s history. In addition, he has guided Clemson to nine conference titles and seven College Football Playoff invitations, and his 12 career bowl victories are the most in ACC history.
On top of that, Swinney has become the fourth head coach in major college football history to achieve fourteen consecutive seasons with nine victories or more at a single program, joining an exclusive group that includes Bobby Bowden, Nick Saban, and Tom Osborne.
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Ultimately, the expectation is quite high. It won’t be easy for him to erase Nick Saban’s legacy, but it will further solidify Swinney’s own place in college football history.
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