Clemson Sports Talk

Former Clemson defensive end Levi Matthews joins the show to talk about his move from the helmet to the headset, his new film-room series and what he sees from the Tigers heading into Saturday night's showdown at LSU.Matthews also explains how Clemson prepares players for hostile environments and why sometimes surviving the chaos comes down to something simple: eyes, hands, feet.Plus, Dabo Swinney weighs in on the wild state of college football, Tom Allen breaks down the challenge of LSU's rebuilt offense, and Swanny wraps up Pigskin Prognostication with Washington and Wisconsin.Kickoff is almost here.

Dabo Swinney makes it official: Christopher Vizzina will start at quarterback when Clemson opens the season at LSU, but freshman Tait Reynolds isn't going away.Blake Ruffino of AYS Sports joins Swanny with the view from Baton Rouge, where expectations — and controversy — are running high ahead of Saturday night's showdown in Death Valley.Plus, Pigskin Prognostication rolls on with Virginia Tech, Southern Cal and Wake Forest as the countdown to kickoff hits the home stretch.

Clemson heads to LSU as a double-digit underdog, but Swanny says keeping it close isn't enough — find a way to win. William Qualkinbush joins the show to break down the matchup, Clemson's questions in the trenches and the challenge of playing in Baton Rouge. Plus, Week 0 reactions and predictions for Utah, Virginia, UCLA and West Virginia.

College football is finally back! Swanny looks ahead to the first Power Four action of the season, rolls through predictions for Syracuse, Rutgers and Alabama, and makes his Week 0 picks.Plus, Jason Priester joins the show to discuss Clemson's defensive tackle concerns, the challenge awaiting the Tigers at LSU and the ongoing fight over former NFL players returning to college football.

Clemson's trip to LSU is officially a sellout, and Swanny wonders if it's finally time for the Tigers to BYOG again. Longtime Clemson SID Tim Bourret joins the show to preview the matchup, discuss the quarterback battle and Clemson's running backs.Plus, Vic Burley apologizes following his arrest, and the Pigskin Prognostication series continues with Stanford, Purdue, Vanderbilt and UCF.

College football may have finally found a way to push back.After the Big Ten moved to prohibit former professional athletes from returning to college competition, the SEC established its own policy aimed directly at its member institutions — and Swanny believes that distinction could be significant.The players may be NCAA eligible, but that doesn't necessarily mean SEC schools can put them on the field without consequences.Jamie Bradford joins the show to discuss LSU's continued push against college football's traditional boundaries, why the SEC needed to respond and whether the Bayou Bengals have become the bad guys of college athletics.Plus, the Pigskin Prognostication series rolls on with SMU, Penn State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech — including one schedule so manageable that Swanny wonders whether Clemson could run the table against it.

Swanny dives into the latest details surrounding Vic Burley's arrest and wonders whether the Clemson defensive tackle can turn an ugly situation into the wake-up call his career desperately needs.Plus, the Pigskin Prognostication series rolls on with Oregon, Texas and TCU as Week 1 finally arrives.Then William Qualkinbush joins the show to discuss Burley and the increasingly bizarre state of college football eligibility before Swanny turns his attention toward Lane Kiffin and LSU. With the Tigers continuing to pursue players who had already moved into the professional ranks, Swanny has seen enough.Just because the courts say you can do something doesn't mean you should.And after hearing Kiffin explain LSU's approach, Swanny concludes the LSU head coach is doing exactly what your parents might have called it years ago: showing his butt.

Swanny reacts to Vic Burley's indefinite suspension and what another setback means for Clemson's already-questionable defensive tackle room heading into Baton Rouge. Plus, Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Pitt go under the microscope in the Pigskin Prognostication series.William Qualkinbush joins the show to discuss Burley, Clemson's defensive line concerns, and the increasingly bizarre world of college football eligibility as LSU prepares to potentially welcome Dae'Quan Wright back from the NFL ranks. Swanny argues it's time for college football's coaches to be the “adults in the room” before the sport crosses another line it can't uncross.Plus, Max Johnson prepares for a seventh college season, now at Georgia Southern, and Deshaun Watson responds after hearing boos in Cleveland.

Swanny revisits Clemson's historic 1982 showdown with Georgia before rolling through preseason predictions for Kansas State, Notre Dame and Ohio State.Plus, Jason Priester joins the show to break down Dabo Swinney's continued challenge to Clemson's defensive tackles, the Tigers' options at defensive end and how Chad Morris could use helmet communication to his advantage against LSU.Later, Swanny weighs in on former pros potentially returning to college football, hears from Clemson offensive lineman Brayden Jacobs, and tackles a Clemson debate for the ages: CJ Spiller or Travis Etienne?

Swanny takes a trip down memory lane with Leonard's Losers before turning his attention to Clemson's looming trip to Baton Rouge and Lane Kiffin's latest look at LSU.Plus, Tim Bourret explains why Clemson's 1982 opener at Georgia still tops LSU as the Tigers' biggest road opener ever and weighs in on Christopher Vizzina's growing presence as Clemson's potential starting quarterback.Swanny also rolls through predictions for NC State, Northwestern and Oklahoma, reacts to Clemson's latest position changes, and wonders just how much college football has changed in the era of NIL, eligibility lawsuits and seemingly endless playing careers.

Clemson won't have the luxury of easing into the 2026 season. Swanny explains why the Tigers' trip to LSU could be the toughest opener in program history and examines some potential cracks Lane Kiffin's Tigers showed during their first scrimmage.Plus, Jamie Bradford joins the show to discuss South Carolina's depleted wide receiver room, LaNorris Sellers in Kendall Briles' offense and whether college football's scheduling model needs another overhaul. And Clemson running back Max Wilson delivers an unforgettable scholarship surprise to his family.

Clemson enters 2026 in unfamiliar territory—outside the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time since 2011. Swanny looks back at just how dramatically expectations have changed in Tigertown and why the Tigers have earned the skepticism.Plus, Jeremiah Alexander explains Clemson's effort to “callous the mind” during fall camp, JUCO newcomer Andy Burburija shares his remarkable journey to Clemson, and Swanny examines whether the Tigers have enough to surprise people when they head to LSU.

Swanny breaks down Clemson's first major fall scrimmage, the continuing quarterback battle between Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds, and the offensive line's development ahead of LSU. Plus, William Qualkinbush weighs in on Polo Anderson's season-ending injury and why Clemson must get comfortable being uncomfortable before walking into what could be the greatest road season opener in program history—a Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

Swanny breaks down Dabo Swinney's message that nothing is guaranteed during Clemson's fall camp as players battle to prove they belong on the field. Plus, Jason Priester weighs in on the quarterback competition, Vic Burley and Tristan Smith, while Swanny rolls through six season predictions—including LSU and Clemson's highly anticipated opener in Baton Rouge.

Swanny explains why the difference between a disappointing season and a great one can come down to just a couple of plays—and why Clemson may be closer to a major bounce-back than its 2025 record suggests. Plus, Jamie Bradford breaks down expectations for South Carolina, and Swanny continues his 2026 predictions with Kentucky, Cincinnati and Georgia Tech.

Swanny catches up with Brett Friedlander and David Glenn to examine where Clemson stands in a changing ACC and why the LSU opener could carry enormous weight for the Tigers.Plus, the 2026 prediction series continues with Baylor, Florida State and Maryland, and the guys discuss James Franklin's impact at Virginia Tech and the pressure facing Mike Norvell at Florida State.

Swanny explains why continued College Football Playoff expansion could make reaching the postseason less meaningful and lays out his own vision for a 24-team format.Plus, the 2026 prediction series continues with Duke, Iowa and Georgia, Ronan Hanafin discusses Clemson's revamped safety room, and Swanny examines why elite quarterback play remains the biggest difference between contenders and pretenders.

Swanny examines Clemson's quarterback battle and asks whether Tate Reynolds should start at LSU if he narrowly outplays Christopher Vizzina in fall camp. William Qualk weighs in on why experience could still give Vizzina the edge in Death Valley and shares what he learned traveling through Italy with Clemson basketball.Plus, Lane Kiffin provides an update on LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, Swanny predicts Florida and BYU's 2026 seasons, and listeners reveal their biggest villains and arch-nemeses in college football.

Clemson is back on the practice field, and the questions surrounding the Tigers are beginning to get answers. Tim Bourret looks back on 49 Clemson fall camps, including the freshman who immediately made him take notice: Sammy Watkins.Jason Priester joins the show with his first impressions of Clemson's quarterback competition, including why Tait Reynolds already looks the part, plus the battles taking shape in the secondary and the potential emergence of Jaheim Lawson.Swanny also breaks down Cal and defending national champion Indiana in his 2026 season predictions and catches up with Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl CEO David Epps. Plus, Elliott Washington explains what Clemson wants to accomplish when the Tigers take the field against LSU: “prove who we are.”

Swanny catches up with Jamie Bradford to discuss the instability surrounding college athletics, the transfer portal and why fans feel increasingly disconnected from the sport. They also examine South Carolina's chances of bouncing back in 2026 and the difficulty of surviving an SEC schedule.Plus, Swanny continues his season predictions with Auburn and Arizona State, breaks down Dabo Swinney's comments as Clemson opens fall camp and explains why the expanded College Football Playoff has delivered one thing fans once could only dream about — marquee postseason games on campus.

Swanny welcomes Lowell the Producer back to the program to discuss how expectations have changed around Clemson football and whether Chad Morris can help restore confidence in the Tigers' offense.Plus, they break down Clemson's daunting opener at LSU, the ACC race and South Carolina's challenging road ahead. Swanny also continues his 2026 predictions with Boston College and Illinois and examines ESPN's playoff outlook for Clemson and the Gamecocks.

Swanny explains why all the lawsuits, eligibility debates and governance issues surrounding college football disappear once the games begin.Plus, the 2026 season prediction series kicks off with Arkansas and Arizona, Tony Petitti weighs in on the Big Ten's future and potential CFP changes, and Swanny looks at why Chad Morris isn't trying to recreate Clemson's past—he's building its future.

Swanny breaks down the growing uncertainty surrounding college athletics after a federal judge's sweeping eligibility ruling, asking who's really making the rules anymore.Plus, former Clemson star DeAndre Hopkins begins his coaching career at Georgia Tech, ACC Network analyst Max Browne joins the show to discuss Christopher Vizzina, Chad Morris, and the conference race, and Swanny previews the start of Clemson's 2026 fall camp.

Swanny questions the NCAA's confusing transfer portal rules and Tennessee linebacker Aaron Carter's suspension before sitting down with College Football Playoff Executive Director Rich Clark to discuss expansion, transparency, and the future of the postseason.Plus, Tim Bourret joins the show to recap Clemson basketball's trip to Italy, preview the Tigers' season, and reflect on the lasting legacy of former athletic director Terry Don Phillips.

Swanny reacts to Clemson being picked fourth in the ACC preseason poll and explains why expectations in July won't determine what happens on the field this fall.Plus, Will Vandervort discusses Dabo Swinney's confidence in his revamped coaching staff and Chad Morris' return, Jamie Bradford weighs in on the changing landscape of college football, and Louisville's Cleve Lubin shares an inspiring journey from junior college to one of the ACC's top contenders.

Swanny explains why Clemson may be much closer to returning to national championship contention than many believe, despite entering the season with lower expectations than in recent years.Plus, Chad Morris discusses Christopher Vizzina, the offensive line, and preparing for LSU, Tim Bourret shares his outlook on the Tigers' 2026 campaign; Faxon Childress weighs in on Clemson's quarterback battle and ACC race, and Swanny reacts to the Big Ten's recent dominance over the SEC and what it means for the changing landscape of college football.

Swanny reacts to Pete Golding's controversial comments on tampering and explains why the lack of accountability in college football continues to reward programs willing to bend the rules. Plus, David Glenn joins the show to break down the ACC race, Chad Morris discusses Clemson's quarterback competition and offensive philosophy, and Swanny shares why Christopher Vizzina appears to have the inside track entering fall camp.

Swanny explains why the current college sports model has reached a breaking point and lays out his vision for a brand-new national college football league with shared revenue, salary caps, contracts, and independent governance.Plus, Will Vandervort joins the show from ACC Kickoff to discuss Dabo Swinney's revamped coaching staff, Chad Morris' return to Clemson, and why the Tigers could be poised for a bounce-back season in 2026.

Swanny breaks down the SEC's effort to reshape the College Football Playoff conversation, explains why comparing 9–3 teams to 11–1 teams isn't as simple as some claim, and sounds off on Pete Golding's controversial comments about tampering.Plus, exclusive ACC Kickoff interviews with Clemson's Will Heldt and Olsen Patt-Henry, Tim Bourret joins the show to discuss the Tigers' 2026 outlook, and Tom Allen shares how Clemson's defense plans to take a major step forward in Year 2.

Swanny breaks down Ben Boulware's challenge for Clemson's defense to find its next vocal leader, reacts to SEC Media Days, and catches up with Jamie Bradford to discuss conference expansion, Shane Beamer, and the future of college football.

Swanny reacts to Greg Sankey's comments from SEC Media Days on College Football Playoff expansion, NCAA governance, and the future of college athletics before welcoming William Qualkinbush to discuss the biggest takeaways from ACC Kickoff.Plus, Tim Bourret shares his thoughts on Clemson's outlook for 2026, and C.J. Spiller breaks down the Tigers' revamped running back room and the impact of transfer Chris Johnson

Swanny broadcasts from the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte with interviews featuring Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl CEO David Epps, Syracuse standout Demetres Samuel Jr., Clemson's Olsen Patt-Henry and Will Heldt, Louisville defensive lineman Clev Lubin, and Jason Priester. Plus, discussions on Chad Morris' impact on Clemson's offense, Christopher Vizzina's opportunity at quarterback, the Tigers' season opener at LSU, and why the ACC needs more programs to rise alongside Clemson and Miami.

Swanny recaps Day 1 of the 2026 ACC Kickoff, breaks down Commissioner Jim Phillips' comments on the College Football Playoff, the ACC's new championship tiebreaker, and conference expansion, then brings you extensive preseason insight from Dabo Swinney on Clemson's roster, coaching staff, quarterback competition, and preparations for the Tigers' season opener against LSU.

Swanny previews the ACC Kickoff, discusses Dabo Swinney and Clemson entering a new era of expectations, examines how the transfer portal has reshaped college football with William Qualkinbush, recaps the MLB Draft's impact on Clemson baseball, and looks ahead to the World Cup semifinals.

Swanny reacts to Kevin Guskiewicz's decision to remain at Michigan State, previews the start of the talking season with Big 12 Media Days, discusses the latest fallout from the Brendan Sorsby gambling case, breaks down the Monster Energy partnership with the Big 12, and catches up with Jamie Bradford to preview the ACC race heading into ACC Kickoff.

Swanny reacts to the United States' crushing World Cup exit against Belgium, breaks down what the loss says about the future of U.S. soccer with former Clemson standout Mark Pizant, discusses Clemson's presidential search after Kevin Guskiewicz's decision to stay at Michigan State, catches up with Florida State insider Jeff Cameron ahead of ACC Kickoff, and examines why Auburn may be the most frustrated fan base in college football.

Swanny recaps the latest FIFA World Cup action, explains why Clemson's season opener at LSU could define the Tigers' 2026 campaign, breaks down the quarterback battle between Christopher Vizzina and Tate Reynolds, discusses South Carolina's recruiting surge, and shares why Dabo Swinney's gesture toward Steven Garcia is bigger than football.

Swanny reacts to South Carolina's offseason video and Clemson's response, discusses the latest developments in the Brendan Sorsby saga and the NFL's decision, catches up with Tim Bure, breaks down the ACC's latest revenue distributions, and previews the upcoming ACC Kickoff.

Swanny reacts to Clemson's surprisingly low rating in EA Sports College Football 2027, explains why fans deserve classic teams from the video game series' lost decade, discusses the latest developments in the Brendan Sorsby saga, catches up with Jamie Bradford, and looks ahead to the 2026 college football season.

Swanny recaps Oklahoma's improbable run to the College World Series title, examines the SEC's continued dominance in baseball, discusses what defines the modern era in college football, breaks down Giannis Antetokounmpo's blockbuster move to Miami, and looks ahead as the countdown to Clemson's opener against LSU continues.

Swanny previews the decisive Game 3 of the College World Series between North Carolina and Oklahoma, examines what a national title would mean for each program's legacy, debates where the modern era of college football truly begins, and catches up with William Qualkinbush to discuss college sports, Dusty May's move to the NBA, and the changing landscape of athletics.

Swanny recaps College World Series action, discusses Troy coach Skylar Meade's comments on culture and the transfer portal, reacts to the final resolution of the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga at Texas Tech, and catches up with Jamie Bradford about South Carolina baseball and Kevin Schnall's first week in Columbia.

Swanny reacts to Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby stepping away from college football following the gambling controversy, discusses what the case means for the future integrity of college sports, and catches up with William Qualkenbush. Plus, World Cup action, Pete Crow-Armstrong hits for the cycle, and the Carolina Hurricanes' championship celebration.

Swanny reacts to the Knicks' first NBA title since 1973, the Hurricanes bringing the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh, and the latest action from the College World Series and FIFA World Cup. Plus, why the Brendan Sorsby gambling controversy could become one of the most important stories in college athletics.

The Spurs suffer a historic NBA Finals collapse, the Hurricanes move within one win of a championship, and Clemson football's biggest question marks take center stage as Will Vandervoort joins the show to break down the Tigers' outlook for 2026.

The Brendan Sorsby controversy continues to dominate college football, with major questions about the NCAA's authority and the integrity of the game. Faxon Childress joins the show to talk Clemson football, basketball, and the Tigers' outlook for 2026.