Last month, Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney predicted his team would go 16-0 in the 2025 season. That now looks impossible. After Saturday's stunning 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech, many fans are using the missed prediction to troll Swinney.
The defeat marks Clemson's second loss of the 2025 season, dropping them to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in ACC play. Following the game, former Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson criticized the program's current state, blaming NIL changes for a decline in player mentality.
"We don't got no dawgs at Clemson. That NIL changed everything," Lawson tweeted.
On Saturday, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King led the Yellow Jackets with 216 passing yards, 103 rushing yards and a touchdown. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik passed for 207 yards and rushed for 62 yards but turned the ball over twice, including a fumble and an interception. Early in the second half, Klubnik connected on a 73-yard touchdown pass to freshman Bryant Wesco to put Clemson ahead 14-13, but the Tigers could not hold the lead.
After the game, Swinney told reporters:
"I know the world we live in, I know the world we created at Clemson with high expectations and excellent. I don't have my head in the sand there, I know there will be a ton of negativity. But we can't do anything about that."
He added:
"We've got two losses that have come down to the last play. It's that simple."
Clemson was last season's ACC champion and advanced to the College Football Playoff. Right now, the Tigers are far from the team many expected and their chances of making the CFP this season are in serious jeopardy.
Next week, they will host Syracuse in an effort to get back on track.