Paul Finebaum reveals how losing Brent Venables to Oklahoma led to Clemson struggles

The reaction to Clemson’s loss to Duke has been swift. The Tigers have now lost three of four games dating back to last year, which hasn’t happened since 2011, and it’s leading to questions about how — and if — Dabo Swinney can get the program back on track.

According to SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, though, Clemson started to look different when Swinney lost a key assistant: Brent Venables.

Venables was Clemson’s defensive coordinator from 2012-21 and helped build the Tigers into a national contender. The program won two titles while he was there, and Clemson had a 121-17 record in that time. But Venables returned to Oklahoma to become the head coach ahead of the 2022 season, and the Tigers are 11-4 since.

In fact, if you go back to Swinney’s first two years at Clemson — before Venables came aboard — he has a 40-23 record without him. That’s why Finebaum argued Venables’ departure is a big reason for Clemson’s recent struggles.

“They are done. And Dabo Sweeney did it to himself,” Finebaum said on First Take Tuesday. “He has simply not adapted with the times. He refuses to go into the [transfer] portal like many other coaches … he had a hard time with NIL. And I think the biggest problem is he lost the most valuable coach he has had, the coach that helped him win those national championships. Think about this for a second. Brent Venables went to Oklahoma, and since he has gone, Dabo Swinney is struggling. He is struggling mightily without him, and he’s also losing.

“Last night was the third time in four games Dabo Swinney has lost … and three of those losses are by two or three touchdowns. This is unprecedented in his reign, and I don’t think he has anywhere to turn. I think the game has passed him by, and quite frankly, he’s on an island and I don’t see him getting it back.”

There were high hopes for Clemson heading into this season. Despite the 10-3 record a year ago, the offense struggled with Brandon Streeter as coordinator and DJ Uiagalelei at quarterback. Swinney opted to fire Streeter and replace him with Garrett Riley while Uiagalelei entered the portal and wound up at Oregon State.

Monday night wasn’t the debut Riley hoped for as Cade Klubnik made his first regular season start. Klubnik threw for 209 yards, the Tigers’ lone touchdown and an interception as Duke came away with the 28-7 victory.

Earlier Tuesday on Get Up, Finebaum noted the offense’s struggles and wondered how Clemson would fare against even tougher competition.

“They brought in Garrett Riley, he was supposed to be the savior,” Finebaum said. “They had the quarterback that was going to beat Trevor Lawrence’s wunderkind and frankly, nothing happened and they didn’t lose to Florida State or Notre Dame or Alabama or Georgia. They lost to Duke which has a very good quarterback, a nice program. Nice being the operative word. They have nowhere to go and Dabo’s nonsense after the game isn’t going to impress anyone. This program is flatlining right now.”