Clemson entered the 2026 college football season hoping for a rebound under head coach Dabo Swinney after going 7-6 last year. Instead, the Tigers opened with a 51-10 loss at LSU and immediately faced scrutiny surrounding their longtime coach.
As the game developed in Baton Rouge, CBS Sports’ Robby Kalland reported on Saturday that Clemson could save $3 million on Swinney’s buyout by firing him during 2026 rather than waiting until 2027.
“Swinney’s contract includes a fascinating wrinkle that would save Clemson $3 million if it were to fire him during the 2026 season rather than after it,” Kalland wrote. “This is the fifth year of that deal, and his flat-rate buyout would be $57 million if fired in 2026. His remaining total compensation starting in 2027 is $60 million, meaning it’s actually cheaper for Clemson to fire Swinney sooner rather than later.”
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That unusual contract structure would still leave Clemson responsible for one of the largest coaching buyouts in college football history.
Five Largest College Football Buyouts
- Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M — $76.8 million
- Brian Kelly, LSU — $53.8 million
- James Franklin, Penn State — $49 million
- Gus Malzahn, Auburn — $21.4 million
- Billy Napier, Florida — $21.2 million
According to Kalland, Swinney’s deal contains no mitigation clause, which means Clemson would remain responsible for the full $57 million even after Swinney accepted another coaching job.
The contract details resurfaced following an embarrassing opener for Clemson. LSU outgained Swinney’s team 644-145 and racked up 38 first downs to Clemson’s eight, while handing Swinney’s program its most lopsided loss since 2000 and the largest in the current head coach’s tenure.
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Swinney has led Clemson through the most successful era in program history, winning two national championships in 2016 and 2018. Last season’s 7-6 finish, however, was the Tigers’ worst since 2010, when Swinney had just taken over the program.
The Tigers will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 12, in a road game against Georgia Southern scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
