Dabo Swinney Studies Football During Clemson Open Week
The Tigers head coach used the bye week to evaluate game situations and watch other college football matchups.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you find it productive to work and study even during your own scheduled time off?
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spent his team's open week evaluating internal personnel and studying college football games. Swinney used the time to watch Samford, where his son Drew Swinney serves as the wide receivers coach.
Why it matters
Coaches often use bye weeks to gain a competitive edge by analyzing new schemes, clock management, and situations across the sport. These evaluations help staff refine their own strategies before returning to regular season play.
Clemson currently holds a 3-2 record heading into their next game. Their next opponent, Charleston Southern, enters the matchup with a 3-3 record.
The players
Dabo Swinney
He serves as the head football coach at Clemson University.
Drew Swinney
He is the wide receivers coach for the Samford football team.
The details
During the break, Swinney monitored games including Chattanooga's 19-3 victory over Samford and Kentucky's 35-34 overtime win against LSU. The staff also focused on internal personnel assessments to prepare for the upcoming game against Charleston Southern.
Timeline
Oct. 10: Chattanooga defeated Samford 19-3.
Oct. 14: Swinney discussed his break activities on The ROAR FM.
Oct. 17: Clemson is scheduled to host Charleston Southern.
Season Trajectory
The open week provides a crucial reset for Clemson as they attempt to improve their 3-2 record before the second half of the season. This diagnostic period is essential for positioning the team for better performance within the conference standings.
Clemson prepares to face Charleston Southern at home on Oct. 17 following the conclusion of their evaluation period. The outcome of this game will be pivotal for maintaining momentum as the Tigers look to build on their current 3-2 standing.
The takeaway
Utilizing open weeks for thorough self-scouting allows coaching staffs to fix personnel issues before the final stretch of the season. Fans can expect these internal refinements to manifest in new tactical looks during the upcoming home game.
Further reading
For more updates on the Tigers, check the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Greenville News.
Live Poll
Do you find it productive to work and study even during your own scheduled time off?
