ESPN highly critical of Clemson football’s 2026 offseason

In a recent article ranking each Power Five team's offseason, ESPN did not have high praise for the Tigers, slotting them outside the top ten in the ACC. They cited Chris Johnson Jr., London Merritt, and Elliot Washington as key additions, and Cade Klubnik, Peter Woods, and Blake Miller as key departures.It’s important to note that this list is not simply about the talent brought in this offseason, but also about what a team is losing. A team (like Clemson) losing three players to the first round of the NFL draft, two more on day two, and their longtime starting QB early on day three is going to seriously affect how much they are perceived to have “improved.” Clemson had 11 starters either graduating or going pro, and three entering the transfer portal.

ESPN cited a change at the coordinator position, with the addition of former Clemson OC Chad Morris. They mentioned the disastrous Luke Ferrelli fiasco and Dabo’s rant in response. On the positive end, Clemson was much more active in the portal and hauled in the 19th-ranked recruiting class in the nation. Overall, this Tigers offseason is the most ridiculed since 2008, when ESPN gave the Tigers' hiring of Dabo Swinney a D+. Let’s hope this season follows a similar path, and subverts the low expectations set by the media.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: ESPN sets low expectations for Dabo, Clemson heading into 2026 season