Dabo Swinney Makes Unexpected Coaching Decision After Clemson's Disappointing Season

Clemson's 2025 season fell well short of expectations for a program that entered the year viewed as an ACC contender. The Tigers opened the season ranked in the AP Top 25 and were projected to compete for a conference title and a return to the College Football Playoff.

Instead, Clemson finished the season 7-6 (4-4 ACC) and closed the year with a 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Offensive inconsistency defined much of the campaign, with the unit struggling to sustain drives and generate explosive plays.

Several close losses, including a 46-45 defeat to Duke, marked one of the more challenging seasons of head coach Dabo Swinney's tenure.

In the aftermath of the disappointing campaign, Swinney made a significant staff move. Per On3Sports, the Tigers have fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.

Riley, who joined Clemson in 2023 after a successful stint at TCU, will not return for the 2026 season. He arrived in Death Valley with a strong résumé, having won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2022, but his tenure at Clemson produced mixed results.

Under Riley, Clemson's offense showed promise in 2024, featuring a balanced attack with a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and four receivers topping 500 yards. However, the unit regressed in 2025. Scoring dropped to 27.2 points per game, and the Tigers struggled to consistently create explosive plays.

While Swinney has retained strong backing from athletic leadership, the move indicates a willingness to make difficult changes following sustained criticism of the program's offensive direction.

Clemson will now begin the search for a new offensive coordinator as it looks ahead to 2026, with an emphasis on revitalizing production and positioning the Tigers for a rebound season under Swinney's leadership.

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Athlon

This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM.