What Dabo Swinney said was 'greatest' about one of his worst Clemson seasons after South Carolina win
COLUMBIA — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney was ecstatic after the Tigers concluded the regular season on a four-game win streak.
"This is the greatest turnaround team in Clemson history," Swinney said Nov. 29 after Clemson dominated South Carolina, winning 28-14 at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The win ensured Clemson (7-5) won't tie its worst regular-season finish under Swinney when the Tigers were 6-6 in 2010. The victory also made this year's Clemson team the first in program history to rebound from a 1-3 or worse start to win seven games.
Tigers running back Adam Randall rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on a season-high 24 carries vs. South Carolina (4-8). Wide receiver T.J. Moore eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the third time this season, and quarterback Cade Klubnik rushed for a wild touchdown after he fumbled.
Clemson recorded five sacks and generated a season-high four turnovers. It marked the Tigers' sixth straight road win against the Gamecocks and their fourth straight road win this season.
Clemson will await its bowl-game selection on Dec. 7, but the finish is still a disappointment for the Tigers, who entered the season as ACC favorites and a national championship contender.
Clemson will play in a non-College Football Playoff bowl for the fourth time in five seasons after making the CFP from 2015-20, and Swinney recognized a 7-5 finish isn't good enough.
"I know everybody's disappointed that we didn't make the ACC championship game this year, and that's my fault," Swinney said. "I didn't get it done."
MORE: How Clemson, Cade Klubnik beat South Carolina to end regular season much better than it started
Still, Swinney said he's "incredibly bullish" on the future of Clemson despite having one of the worst seasons in his 17 full seasons. The Tigers' losses have increased from one in 2019 to two in 2020 to three in 2021 and 2022 to four in 2023 and 2024 to five this season.
He credits Clemson's program and culture for his belief the Tigers will return to success.
"We'll win another national championship, we'll win more conference championships, we'll win more big games," Swinney said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney reacts to Clemson's road win vs South Carolina
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