In a year when the Tigers needed a bit of luck to make the College Football Playoffs, head coach Dabo Swinney found a way to quell the criticisms slightly, but some still doubt he can compete in the NIL era. Contrarily, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy says, ‘Not so fast,’ about writing off the two-time national champion, ranking him as the seventh-best coach in the country.
Dabo Swinney ranked No. 7 in McElroy’s college coaches top-25
“He is by far the best coach in the history of Clemson football,” said McElroy. “He’s been there for 17 years. Very few in the sport have a better track record than Dabo Swinney currently coaching. I’m not sure there is a better track record.”
Dabo Swinney is one of only four active head coaches with a national championship, and only Swinney and Kirby Smart have more than one. And if it were for a few string of bad seasons, McElroy says he would be in the top three.
The same old talking point about Swinney’s apprehensive approach to the transfer portal doesn’t face McElroy either.
“The big question about Davos Sweeney though in the modern day is how adaptable has he been, and will he be in the future in the NIL transfer portal era, McElroy said.
“I think Dabo Sweeney might be doing it a bit differently than some of the other guys that’ll [sic] be ranked at the top of the list. But it doesn’t mean the way he’s doing it is wrong.
Swinney has gone against his former stance on the transfer portal, going into the portal for a contributing-level player. His first one was a Rockstar pickup in Will Heldt from Wake Forrest. Heldt is a top-50 transfer in the 2025 cycle and the No. 6 edge player.
He brought in two more in linebacker Jeremiah Alexander from Alabama, a former 97 four-star recruit, according to 247Sports, and Southeast Missouri State wideout Tristen Smith.
“He’s just looking at [the transfer portal] more holistically. He’s putting a greater emphasis on culture and a greater emphasis on retaining his top players as opposed to going out and stealing other teams’ top players.”
However, there’s little to complain about with who McElroy puts in front of Swinney. Smart comes in No. 1, coming off four straight CFP appearances and two national championships. He was followed by Ryan Day, who brought Ohio State its first championship since 2015 in January, Steve Sarkisian, Marcus Freeman, Dan Lanning, and Kalen DeBoer.
Greg McElroy’s top-25 coaches in college football
- Kirby Smart
- Ryan Day
- Steve Sarkisian
- Marcus Freeman
- Dan Lanning
- Kalen DeBoer
- Dabo Swinney
- Jeff Brohm
- Brian Kelly
- James Franklin
- Lane Kiffin
- Josh Heupel
- Matt Campbell
- Chris Klieman
- Eli Drinkwitz
- Brett Bielema
- Lance Leipold
- Shane Beamer
- Lincoln Riley
- Mario Cristobal
- Kalani Sitake
- Deion Sanders
- Curt Cignetti
- Rhett Lashleee
- Kenny Dillingham
