Paul Finebaum Declares Top Program Is 'No Longer A National Championship Contender'

A few seasons ago, the Clemson Tigers were one of the top national championship-contending teams yearly. However, the Tigers haven't made the College Football Playoff since 2020 and are coming off their worst season in over a decade.

Last season, the Tigers finished ranked No. 22, their lowest ranking since 2011 and the worst of the College Football Playoff era. Additionally, they were seemingly eliminated after just four games due to their second loss.

However, Clemson aims to return to the elite level, but they will have to do so with their lowest preseason ranking since 2014. According to ESPN's Paul Finebaum , the Tigers are still a good program but are no longer considered national championship contenders as they once were.

"I feel like they're going to be a good program but no longer a national championship contending program," Finebaum said.

According to Finebaum, he thinks that the Tigers are no longer championship contenders because of head coach Dabo Swinney. Finebaum believes that the game has "passed" Swinney by and suggests that Swinney hasn't adapted to the new era of college football, particularly the transfer portal. Finebaum clarifies that he doesn't think Swinney is a bad coach, but rather that he hasn't adjusted to the changes in the game.

The numbers back up Finebaum's statement as Clemson has only signed three players from the transfer portal since 2019. One of those players initially started their career at Clemson before choosing to return. None of the three have made any impact: two were backup quarterbacks, and the other was a walk-on wide receiver.

Unless Swinney adapts to the modern era, Finebaum believes Clemson's dominance is over.

Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals Top College Football Coach's Time Is Running Out