Well, the toughest pill for a coach to swallow isn’t just losing a game, but it’s running out of words to make his sting feel less. And that’s exactly where Clemson Tigers’ HC Dabo Swinney stands. After missing out on the playoff berth, the weight sits right on his shoulders like a sack of bricks. But let’s just not write him off the championship list yet. As his recruiting game’s cooking, and if you think that’s just a random stance, go ask J.D. PicKell, who’s already betting big on what he is building.Look, every Clemson fan is waiting to see how Dabo Swinney’s transfer portal approach and coaching hires will resonate this season. Now, if you don’t know, the Tigers have landed three transfers for the 2025 season so far, and they are WR Tristan Smith, DL Will Heldt, and linebacker Jeremiah Alexander. This is more than their portal presence in six years, which stands at 2 since 2018. But despite making big moves in the portal, Clemson is nowhere in the title contenders talks, and analyst J.D. PicKell doesn’t like it.Well, even if people are unsure about Clemson’s position in the league this season, PicKell is the first one highlighting it, saying, “I feel like I’ve shown up earlier to this Clemson party because y’all notice, like, the way-too-early National Title picks and things of that nature, Clemson’s not really in that discussion.” See, Clemson has had its fair share of bittersweet moments. First, they finished their season with 10-3 losses, but Ohio State slammed the door with a 42-17 beat down. Shattering their playoff hopes. But one thing is certain: Dabo Swinney’s dynasty isn’t dead, but the cracks are showing.Now, unlike others, J.D. PicKell is the one trusting the kind of change Dabo Swinney is bringing and rating their capabilities, saying, “Like, we put out our way-too-early college football playoff bracket; I have Clemson going to the semis. If Clemson gets within eight quarters of winning at all, then I think we can pretty much feel assured that Dabo’s not going anywhere and Clemson’s not going anywhere.” That’s a fair point. Let’s not forget that the Vols were pretty close in their championship run, and no wonder that can happen again this season.Moreover, Clemson and Dabo Swinney just hit the jackpot — Cade Klubnik isn’t bolting. The Tigers’ starting quarterback is returning next season after a stellar year with 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. In addition to his arm strength, he also displayed great speed with 463 rushing yards and 7 TDs. And that’s just increasing their championship run as Pickell says, “They had dudes at quarterback. I think Cade Klubnik in his third year only getting better in that Garrett Riley system brings you confidence there.”But Klubnik’s return isn’t the only one acing up Clemson’s sleeve. The team also hired Penn State’s defensive weapon Tom Allen into the team, which gives them a strong depth moving forward in the game. Plus, PicKell says, “I feel it’s a lot like old Clemson,” as Dabo Swinney’s new pack feels like a combination of old guys like Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence and the defense they had earlier, that’s what Dabo is trying to bring back to the team. And even Paul Finebaum sees it.Paul Finebaum’s change of heart towards Dabo Swinney’s teamWell, the College Football Playoff made significant changes in 2025 by expanding from four to eight teams and introducing automatic bids. The top five conference champions secured spots, with the top four receiving byes. Clemson took advantage by clinching the ACC title with a dramatic last-second field goal against SMU to secure the No. 12 seed. However, they were out in the first round by the No. 5 seed Texas Longhorns, losing 38-24.And Paul Finebaum, never one to mince words, previously wrote off Clemson as a fading powerhouse. “Clemson’s not really that relevant anymore,” he said in January. “I mean, they snuck into the playoff, and they got ushered right out of the playoff.” But now? He’s flipped the script trusting Dabo Swinney’s approach, saying, “I think Clemson is a legitimate contender for the national championship,” leaving fans wondering what changed in just a few weeks and the answer is pretty simple: It’s Dabo’s unique approach.Plus, their key to their future success? Stability. Clemson retains all their key players who were eligible, including QB Cade Klubnik. While they did lose running back Phil Mafah (1,115 yards, 8 TDs), they managed to avoid any significant departures through the transfer portal. With their experienced talent intact, HC Swinney may just have the right pieces to lead Clemson back to championship contention. The upcoming season will reveal how well they can perform. The post National Analyst Demands Justice for Dabo Swinney After Paul Finebaum Changes Tune on Clemson’s Future appeared first on EssentiallySports.