Clemson under pressure to improve following disappointing 2025 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 23, 2026, 4:02 PM
Last updated Aug 23, 2026

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program face significant pressure ahead of the 2026 season. Following a subpar 7-6 finish last year, Clemson aims to demonstrate that this result was an anomaly rather than a sign of decline. National analyst Josh Pate highlighted that Clemson lost nine players to the 2026 NFL Draft, complicating their roster outlook. Pate emphasized that expectations are shifting, and the team's performance this season is crucial for their national relevance. Another disappointing year could exacerbate doubts surrounding the program's trajectory.
- •Clemson finished 7-6 last season, raising concerns about its trajectory.
- •Josh Pate identifies Clemson as under heavy pressure this fall.
- •The team lost nine players in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- •Clemson aims to prove its last season was an outlier.
- •Pate warns of uncomfortable implications if performance does not improve.
- 4:02 PMYahoo Sports — Is Clemson football running out of time? National analyst believes so
"Are Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program running out of time to bounce back?
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