Clemson’s Dabo Swinney never shies away from speaking his mind, but his recent comments on the college football transfer portal may bite him. On The College GameDay Podcast, the two-time national champion coach labeled the current system to be in a “period of complete chaos,” calling for clear rules in the unregulated player movement and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) dealings.
While many backed Swinney’s plea for structure, some fans on X fired back, challenging his statement.
Dabo Swinney Request For Order Made Fans Call Him Out
Swinney’s critique is based on the transfer portal’s lack of regulation, which he argues creates a free-for-all environment. “There are no rules right now. We just want some rules,” he said, highlighting the absence of caps on NIL earnings and the unregulated role of agents. When the official account of On3 shared a post with Dabo’s thoughts, a fan called him out by saying, “Then prove it. Don’t sue the minute a rule is applied to you.”
Then prove it. Don’t sue the minute a rule is applied to you.
— Big Ten Rex (@RexonFootball) June 2, 2025
With players able to transfer during multiple windows (December and April) coaches face roster instability, especially during bowl season and spring practice. Swinney wants a future with a salary cap-like model, similar to the NFL. “Right now, there is no market, no transparency,” he noted, predicting that the looming House v. NCAA settlement could bring clarity within a year.
The fan reaction of Sweeney’s comment is most likely referencing Swinney’s past, including his 2024 lawsuit against the ACC over media rights and a $140 million exit fee, seen by some as resistance to change.
Some argue that Swinney, who has long prioritized high school recruiting over the portal, only embraces reform when it suits him. Clemson signed just three transfers for 2025: edge rusher Will Heldt, wide receiver Tristan Smith, and linebacker Jeremiah Alexander, which seems very low compared to programs like Ole Miss, which added 17. Yet, Swinney defends his approach, having a 98.5% graduation rate among 395 seniors and only two significant portal losses since 2018.
Despite his reluctance, Swinney isn’t completely anti-portal. After all, using the portal, he was able to make strategic additions like Heldt. His philosophy is more focused on making the players stick with the program and develop like stars such as Cade Klubnik and Peter Woods, who bloomed under Clemson’s program.
KEEP READING: Did Dabo Swinney Play College Football? A Look Back at the Clemson Coach’s Beginnings
However, the 2023 season’s 9-4 record fueled narratives that Swinney’s resistance to the portal was holding Clemson back. The Tigers’ 2024 rebound with 10 wins, an ACC title, and a College Football Playoff berth, silenced some doubters, but a first-round loss to Texas showed that there are still some gaps in the roster.
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