Dabo Swinney reveals truth about Clemson football’s NIL struggles
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was very open about the Tigers’ struggles with NIL compared to other top teams in college football.
For all the changes happening across college football, the way the Clemson Tigers operate hasn’t really shifted. That might sound odd in an era driven by NIL deals and growing financial gaps, but head coach Dabo Swinney made it clear Clemson isn’t trying to mirror the sport’s biggest brands. Programs like Alabama Crimson Tide football, Ohio State Buckeyes football, Georgia Bulldogs football, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football still hold advantages in areas like alumni backing and financial reach.
“At Clemson, we always have to have a chip on our shoulder,” Swinney said on Always College Football with Greg McElroy . “It just is what it is, we don’t have the same alumni base that other schools we have played and had to compete with over the years have. That’s just the way it is.
” Despite that, Clemson hasn’t exactly struggled to keep up. During Swinney’s tenure, the Tigers have consistently delivered against elite competition, owning a strong record against Ohio State while also picking up multiple wins over Alabama and Notre Dame. “Notre Dame has their own TV station.
They make their own rules. They print their own money. They got like their own money machine in the backyard or something,” Swinney said.