Even casual college football fans can see the writing on the wall, as the once-proud national powerhouse has fallen on hard times, culminating in a 51-10 beatdown at the hands of LSU on Saturday night.I've written a lot about Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and the thin line between respecting his past accomplishments and ushering the program into the NIL era, but lately I've found myself wondering if he's used up his nine lives.HOW MUCH LONGER DOES CLEMSON HEAD COACH DABO SWINNEY REALISTICALLY HAVE IN DEATH VALLEY?Saturday wasn't anything new - Clemson getting clobbered by a quality opponent has happened quite often post-Covid – but the fact that the general public has changed its reaction to the ritualistic sacrifices from shock to apathy shows that the Tigers aren't what they used to be.And that starts at the top.Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney waits to lead his team on the field prior to the game between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Sept.13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Kevin C.Cox/Getty Images)It's probably not a hot take to say that it's time for Clemson to make a change at head coach.The game appears to be passing Dabo by at warp speed, and although he won the ACC and made the College Football Playoff just two seasons ago, the conference is only getting tougher, and opponents like Miam, which used to be stepping stones for the Tigers on their way to a championship, are now leaning into the "new model" and lapping the old rulers of the realm.But getting rid of a coach is only half of the equation, and the question still remains: Who does Clemson replace Swinney with should it choose to move on from him?The Tigers are one of the few "haves" in a world of "have nots," meaning they could pick from a list of elite head coaches and not have to go too far down before hearing a "yes."However, going "big game hunting" isn't always the answer.Texas A&M, LSU, and USC are all some of the biggest brands in college...