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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney is still reeling from officiating in college football and voiced it again Tuesday days after a devastating loss to Duke.
Swinney wondered aloud about his availability in the media why officials are not held more accountable and pointed to controversies surrounding gambling.
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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks to the referee in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 4, 2025. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
“We’ve got gambling issues going on, people getting suspended, all kinds of things right,” he said, via The Athletic . “I also think referees are people too. It’s not just coaches and players, and if they’re part of the game, by God they should be part of the game and they should be part of the accountability. They should be part of the consequences, not just behind some shadowy curtain.”
Swinney had been upset by a pass interference call on the Tigers in the final minute of their game against the Blue Devils. Duke’s Nate Sheppard ran in for a 3-yard go-ahead touchdown with 40 seconds left.
Duke won the game, 46-45.
Swinney said he wanted “public accountability” from the ACC to address calls he believed were wrong.
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney prepares to run on the field with his team before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field on September 13, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
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Clemson is coming off Swinney’s worst season since 2010, when the Tigers were 6-7. Swinney was on the hot seat then, as much as he is now, but was able to turn the program around. He won eight ACC titles and two national championships since then.
Swinney complained about the pass interference call immediately after the loss. The ACC fined him $10,000.
“Public criticism of officials or public comments evaluating the conduct of particular contests is not in the best interest of intercollegiate athletics. Accordingly, it is prohibited for individuals affiliated with the athletics program to make comments while acting in an official capacity other than directly to the conference office,” the ACC policy states.
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks with an official during the NCAA football game against the Duke Blue Devils during the game at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025. (Alex Martin/Imagn Images)
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The conference said it considered the matter closed and would have no further comment.
