Dabo Swinney breaks down how changes to clock rules will impact offense

The NCAA is making a major rules change beginning this fall as the clock will no longer stop on most first downs. Outside of the final two minutes of each half, the clock will continue to run when teams pick up a first down. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacted to the rules change at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff event last week. Needless to say, he doesn’t expect there to be much of an impact.

“I don’t think it’ll change much,” Swinney said. “They changed the rules a few years ago where it doesn’t stop when you go out of bounds. The biggest change is the first downs. So apparently that’ll shorten the game some. I don’t know.”

Dabo Swinney has another idea when it comes to the best way to shorten games.

“I think it’s more of the commercials (that’s the problem) if you ask me,” Swinney joked.

Since the clock will still stop at the end of the half, Swinney doesn’t expect a huge change. With that said, it will impact his strategy somewhat.

“There’s no change to the (end of the) first half and second half. That’s the exact same. So it’s not like we’ve gotta rethink clock management or things like that,” Swinney said. “Now your four-minute mode is different, because obviously if you get a first down it’s rolling. So that part of it is a little different. But I think it’s good. I don’t think there’s anything bad about it.”

College football games have routinely hit the four-hour plus mark in recent years. It remains to be seen how much keeping the clock running on first downs will help.

Dabo Swinney remarks FSU’s rise good for the ACC, not sure if good for Clemson

Dabo Swinney covered a number of other topics at ACC Media Days, including the rise of Florida State.

Expectations are as high for Florida State as they have been in years entering the 2023 college football season. The Seminoles are coming off a 10-3 season in Year 3 under Mike Norvell and return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.

Clemson and FSU are viewed as the clear top two teams in the ACC heading into the season, after the Tigers held that distinction by themselves for the better part of the last decade.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spoke about what the rise of Florida State means for the Tigers and the ACC at the 2023 Football Kickoff event last week.

“I mean, I don’t know if it’s good for Clemson. It’s definitely good for the ACC, having as many good teams as we can have,” Swinney said.