Ahead of a hyped Week 1 showdown, Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney took aim at LSU Tigers coach Lane Kiffin in pointed remarks about LSU’s “embarrassing” player eligibility drama.
LSU has agreed to add tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, 2026 undrafted free agents who previously signed NFL contracts, a decision met with widespread backlash, including from its own conference, the SEC, which has threatened severe sanctions.
A judge recently ruled the conference couldn’t punish schools following a previous court order allowing athletes in the high-school class of 2022 to play this season, which folded them into previously approved NCAA legislation granting student-athletes players five years of eligibility.
The messy saga may remain unresolved up until game day — possibly longer — and Swinney discussed game-planning for LSU and the prospect of playing against former NFL signees. The two-time CFP champion coach didn’t take issue with players, instead directing his ire at coaches, including Kiffin, and other higher-ups for bending rules.
“I don’t blame the kids,” Swinney said, “but people trying to take advantage of the system. It’s embarrassing, but we’ve been there for a while.”
He then took an unsubtle jab at Kiffin.
“No pun intended, but we’re just going to stay in our lane.”
Dabo on NFL guys being able to play: “It’s kind of embarrassing, Honestly, it’s embarrassing that’s where we are. I don’t blame the kids, but people trying to take advantage of the system. It’s embarrassing but we’ve been there for a while.”
Adds “no pun intended but we’re just…
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Dabo Swinney takes issue with Lane Kiffin amid LSU eligibility controversy
The controversy surrounding Harris and Wright has been all-consuming in the buildup to the Week 1 rematch of last year’s 17-10 LSU win at Clemson, so much so that the opener has almost become secondary.
But Swinney may want to be careful not to kick the hornet’s nest. Clemson has a daunting challenge on Saturday, with ESPN Analytics giving LSU, which opened as a 10.5-point favorite, 75.3 percent odds of winning.
Clemson lost nine 2025 key contributors to the NFL draft this offseason, including starting right tackle Blake Miller, defensive tackle Peter Woods, edge-rusher T.J. Parker and cornerback Avieon Terrell, all selected in the first two rounds.
The Tigers are also replacing quarterback Cade Klubnik, with Swinney announcing redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina, who has 105 career pass attempts, will start against LSU in Tiger Stadium, one of the most difficult road environments in the country. True freshman Tait Reynolds may also receive playing time.
This offseason, LSU was among the most aggressive teams in the portal, landing 247Sports’ No. 1 class. Transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt helped guide the Arizona State Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship in 2024 and threw for 4,513 yards, 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions over the past two seasons (20 games).
Few coaches are as proficient at trolling as Kiffin. We wouldn’t put it past him to try to run up the score if given the opportunity and hand Clemson yet another Week 1 loss. Swinney has begun 0-1 in three consecutive seasons, with Clemson being outscored 79-20. Meanwhile, Kiffin hasn’t lost an FBS opener since the conference-only 2020 pandemic-altered season, with Ole Miss averaging 44.6 points per game during the span (2021-25).
If the recent past is predictive of the future, Swinney could be the only one embarrassed after Week 1.
