Clemson football has long been a powerhouse, with multiple national titles and a streak of playoff appearances. But as the landscape of the sport changes, particularly with the rise of the transfer portal, the Tigers’ old-school approach might be causing them to fall behind.

Creator: Kevin C. Cox | Credit: Getty Images

The Transfer Portal

Since its introduction in 2018, the transfer portal has dramatically changed college football for better or worse. It’s become a way for players to find better opportunities. For coaches, it’s a fast track to plug roster gaps or add experienced talent that can make an immediate impact. Just this last season, Ohio State went from a playoff contender to National Title favorite from the portal alone.

Clemson’s Old School Approach

Under head coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson has been slower to embrace the transfer portal. Or to be more accurate, completely absent. Swinney has always been about building a strong culture and developing players from the ground up. He prefers to bring in recruits and mold them over several years, creating a sense of continuity and loyalty within the program.This method has worked for Clemson in the past, but as college football evolves, it’s fair to wonder if it’s still enough.

Their reluctance to dive into the portal has started the slow decline of the program. Clemson is still a yearly conference contender, but the national spotlight has started to dim. Without the boost of experienced players from the portal, they’ve struggled to fill gaps when injuries or other departures have left them thin, while other programs have plugged these gaps. Clemson puts all its eggs in a few baskets, hoping that the old school approach that worked for generations will still produce the same results. We’ve seen this before with schools such as Army who refuse to play modern football. Albeit this is more of a sign of Americanism for West-Point, Army is not as competitive as it once was.

What’s Next

For Clemson to stay at the top of college football, they need to prioritize the transfer portal. This doesn’t mean abandoning their commitment to developing talent, but rather finding a middle ground. By using the portal to fill specific needs, Clemson can maintain their culture while staying competitive. If the Tigers can harness the power of the portal, they won’t risk falling behind to ACC foes such as FSU and Miami, and will once again brighten the spotlight that they held for so long.

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