Clemson football is no stranger to the spotlight, but this offseason, the attention hasn't exactly been flattering. CBS Sports' Cover 3 podcast recently turned up the heat on Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, labeling their offseason as one of the most concerning in college football heading into 2026.

During a segment focused on programs that have stumbled during the offseason grind, analyst Danny Kanell didn't mince words. "You know a rough one?" Kanell asked. "Normally, if you had nine players drafted, you'd feel pretty good about yourselves. But Clemson… was one of the most underachieving teams in the entire country."

Kanell pointed to a trio of red flags: offensive staff shakeups, lingering uncertainty at quarterback, and the sting of what he called "the worst season they've seen in the Dabo Swinney era." He added, "Breaking in a new quarterback that everyone's kinda just fingers crossed that you hope is going to be good… I think Clemson's had a rough offseason."

The conversation didn't stop there. Analyst Tom Fornelli took it a step further, declaring, "I think they had a terrible offseason." He highlighted a troubling trend: "All these Clemson players have been going early in the draft, and the team has not been living up to the talent level on the field in recent years." Fornelli questioned whether the Tigers still boast the same caliber of roster that once made them a perennial powerhouse, warning that another disappointing season could pile on serious pressure regarding the program's direction.

For a team that once set the standard in college football, the gap between talent and results is becoming impossible to ignore. If Clemson struggles to reach a bowl game again in 2026, the conversations around this program will only get louder—and tougher to answer.