Clemson football’s season ended with a 38-24 loss to Texas in the first round of the college football playoffs. Although Clemson put up a strong fight, especially compared to other road teams, the defense struggled throughout the year, leading to speculation about potential changes within the staff, particularly regarding defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.
However, head coach Dabo Swinney downplayed these rumors after the game, focusing on the positive aspects of the season. “We had a great year, we won the championship. We’ve got to improve in all areas. We’ve got an excellent staff. All those guys work really hard and well together,” Swinney said. The “championship” he referred to was Clemson’s ACC Championship victory over SMU, which helped them secure a spot in the playoffs.
Despite some setbacks, including a tough opening loss to Georgia and a collapse against SMU, Clemson showed resilience, particularly in their game against Texas. The team demonstrated grit and poise, even though they were outmatched in terms of talent.
Clemson, once at the top of college football with a 2019 national title, has faced challenges in recent years, including playoff losses and a lack of appearances in the big tournament. However, the new 12-team playoff format allowed Clemson to return this season. The team will open its 2025 season at home against LSU.
