In ESPN’s 2025 college football coach rankings, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney comes in third place, behind Ryan Day of Ohio State and Kirby Smart of Georgia.

For over a decade, Dabo Swinney has been one of the most recognizable and polarizing figures in college football. His tenure at Clemson has delivered national championships, undefeated seasons, elite recruiting classes, and no shortage of media soundbites. But in the ever-evolving landscape of college football, especially amid seismic shifts driven by NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment, Swinney finds himself in an unfamiliar spot—third place in ESPN’s 2025 college football coach rankings.

Behind Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Swinney’s No. 3 position has sparked debate and reflection, both in Death Valley and around the country. Is this a sign of Clemson’s decline? A testament to the excellence of Day and Smart? Or simply a recalibration of where Swinney fits in a changing game?

Let’s dive into what this ranking truly means and why Dabo Swinney remains a defining figure in the sport.

Each year, ESPN’s rankings generate buzz, but the 2025 edition hits differently. For nearly a decade, Alabama’s Nick Saban occupied the top spot. With his 2024 retirement, the coaching hierarchy has opened up, leading to a reshuffling that places Ryan Day at No. 1, Kirby Smart at No. 2, and Dabo Swinney at No. 3.

Day’s top ranking reflects Ohio State’s consistency, top-5 recruiting, and a 2024 national title appearance. Meanwhile, Kirby Smart’s reign at Georgia—highlighted by two national championships, elite defense, and dominance in the SEC—makes his second-place finish a formality.

But Swinney’s placement at No. 3 is more nuanced. It recognizes his past success, questions about Clemson’s recent trajectory, and an evolving football world that he has often resisted embracing.

Swinney’s accomplishments are unimpeachable. Since taking over in 2008, he’s led Clemson to two national championships (2016, 2018), six College Football Playoff appearances, and seven ACC titles. For nearly a decade, Clemson was one of only a handful of teams considered national title contenders every season.

From Deshaun Watson to Trevor Lawrence, from Vic Beasley to Christian Wilkins, Swinney’s teams were not only talented but also culture-driven. His program was built on development, belief, and continuity—ideals that distinguished Clemson from the plug-and-play tendencies seen at other powerhouse programs.

As ESPN’s panel noted, “Dabo Swinney has done more with less blue-chip talent than almost any coach in modern history. His development pipeline is unmatched when it clicks.”

But even the most storied resumes are only as relevant as the present—and in recent years, Clemson has slipped just enough to make observers question Swinney’s adaptability.

Swinney’s traditionalist approach to college football has become a talking point. He has voiced skepticism about the transfer portal, expressed caution over NIL deals, and has often reiterated a desire to keep Clemson’s program “family-based” and “inside-out.” While noble in theory, this approach has put the Tigers at a disadvantage in an arms race increasingly powered by aggressive roster management and donor-backed collectives.

Over the past three seasons, Clemson has lost at least three games in each campaign—a far cry from its 2015-2020 dominance. Offensively, the Tigers have regressed, particularly at quarterback. While Cade Klubnik showed flashes in 2023 and 2024, he failed to meet the high bar set by predecessors like Watson and Lawrence. Recruiting has also taken a slight hit, with Clemson finishing outside the top 10 in composite rankings two years in a row.

“Clemson is still elite defensively,” an anonymous Power Five assistant told ESPN. “But their refusal to go all-in on the portal is hurting them. Everyone else is stacking five-star transfers. Dabo still wants to build guys over three or four years. That’s tough in today’s game.”

Ryan Day’s ranking at No. 1 is a nod to sustained excellence and resilience. Despite constant pressure to beat Michigan and win it all, Day has kept Ohio State at the forefront with top-tier recruiting and schematic prowess. His offense remains among the most explosive in the country, and his 2024 season—featuring a Big Ten title and a run to the national championship game—was enough to nudge him into the top spot in Saban’s absence.

Kirby Smart, meanwhile, has built Georgia into the sport’s most physical and consistent force. His defensive acumen, coupled with a willingness to adapt offensively, has made the Bulldogs a factory of NFL talent. Georgia’s ability to reload each year—and its aggressive use of both high school and portal recruiting—demonstrates the balance Swinney has yet to strike.

Put simply: Day and Smart have embraced the game’s changes. Swinney, for now, remains more of a holdout.

Despite the criticisms, Clemson enters the 2025 season with reasons for optimism. Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin has established one of the nation’s top units, and the return of key players in the secondary and linebacker corps gives the Tigers a solid foundation.

On offense, the arrival of new play-caller Joe Brady has brought renewed excitement. Brady, known for his work with LSU in 2019, is expected to inject creativity and tempo—something sorely missing in recent years. If Klubnik or incoming freshman Alex Taylor can elevate the quarterback play, the Tigers could once again be a threat in the ACC and nationally.

Perhaps most importantly, there are signs that Swinney is softening his stance on the portal. Clemson added four transfers this offseason—more than any year prior—including a veteran offensive lineman and a proven wideout from the Big 12. It’s not an overhaul, but it’s progress.

Swinney’s legacy is secure. He broke through at a time when only the SEC seemed capable of producing champions. He proved that Clemson could compete with the likes of Alabama and Ohio State. His cultural blueprint, blending spirituality, discipline, and emotional connection, gave Clemson an identity few programs could match.

But legacy is not the same as relevance.

The modern coach must be part CEO, part recruiter, part strategist—and part lobbyist in the NIL and portal ecosystem. The coaches ahead of Swinney in ESPN’s rankings, namely Day and Smart, have mastered these dimensions. For Swinney to climb back to No. 1, he must evolve while staying true to his principles—a balancing act that could define the next chapter of his career.

The rankings sparked predictably mixed reactions:

• Clemson fans felt Swinney was being disrespected. Many pointed to the Tigers’ consistency and his refusal to “sell out” as virtues, not flaws. “We don’t need a rental roster,” one fan tweeted. “We build men.”

• National analysts, however, largely agreed with the placement. Paul Finebaum, a longtime Swinney critic, said, “Dabo’s a great coach, but he’s playing checkers in a chess world. Day and Smart are ahead of the curve.”

• Former players were quick to defend him. Christian Wilkins posted, “Coach Swinney is a culture builder. You can’t measure that with just rankings. He’s done more for us than you’ll ever see in a win column.”

Absolutely—but it’ll require a few key shifts.

First, he must continue evolving in his approach to roster management. That doesn’t mean abandoning his culture, but rather using the portal and NIL to complement it. Second, Clemson must return to offensive relevance. Whether it’s Klubnik or Taylor, the Tigers need a quarterback who can elevate the program like Watson or Lawrence once did.

Finally, Swinney must beat elite teams again. In recent years, losses to Notre Dame, South Carolina, and Florida State have dimmed the aura Clemson once carried. A win over Georgia in Week 1 of the 2025 season could be the statement the program needs.

Dabo Swinney being ranked No. 3 by ESPN in 2025 is not a snub—it’s a reality check and a compliment rolled into one. He remains one of the few active coaches with national titles on his résumé. His program is still a national brand. But in a sport moving faster than ever, even legends must adapt.

Whether Swinney views this ranking as fuel or just noise remains to be seen. But if history is any indication, count on Clemson being back in the conversation sooner rather than later—and Dabo Swinney having something to say about it.