Stephen A. Smith believes Clemson football has reached a pivotal juncture, warning that the Tigers’ recent struggles could make them a dangerous opponent for No. 11 LSU in Saturday night’s season opener in Baton Rouge.
Appearing on ESPN’s First Take, Smith joined co-panelist Evan Cohen in placing head coach Lane Kiffin and LSU on “upset alert” ahead of the kickoff at Tiger Stadium, where Clemson enters as a 10.5-point underdog.
“I can’t wait to talk to Dabo Swinney because I love that man,” Smith said. “And he’s lost 14 games in the last three years. Let’s think about that. He’s lost 14 games in the last three years. He can complain about NIL and all of that stuff all you want to. But this is the game that you’re in and you’ve got to adapt… So in other words, you were comfortable when your side of the fence had all the power. And now that it’s called for an adjustment, he’s having a hard time to adjust.”
Urgency and Adaptation
Despite questioning Swinney’s historical hesitancy to embrace modern roster management tools such as the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) infrastructure, Smith argued that the urgency surrounding the program could drive a strong Week 1 response.
“I think that because of the urgency of the moment, with Clemson having lost 14 games over the last three years, they better be ready against LSU,” Smith said. “I think he knows it, I think they know it, and I think that’s what could have Lane Kiffin and LSU on upset alert.”
High Praise Amid Criticism
Smith underscored his respect for Swinney’s accomplishments, noting that the two-time national championship head coach possesses the personal charisma needed to recruit at the highest level in any era.
“He’s such a good man. He’s a damn good coach. He’s a champion. He’s a two-time national champion… with a personality that really can ingratiate itself with the younger generation, if he was committed to it even more,” Smith said. “Dabo Swinney can talk to any kid in America and get them thinking twice about neglecting to come to Clemson… But you’ve got to want to do it. If they see that you’re not really into it, they’ll pick up on that right away, and that is the problem with Dabo Swinney.”
Clemson opens its 2026 campaign on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, seeking its first signature victory of the season after entering the year unranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2011.
