Dabo Swinney calls out College Football Playoff selection, fires shot at Notre Dame

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney famously said several years back that the Tigers were on the “ROY Bus,” adding that it was Alabama and then the “rest of y’all” in college football.

Swinney feels that Clemson is still a part of the ROY Bus, but the group is currently made up of the SEC, Big Ten and Notre Dame, instead of just Alabama. The College Football Playoff begins in three weeks and the Big Ten and SEC are both expected to be well represented. Notre Dame is also set to get in as things stand.

Swinney offered his thoughts on the CFP selection process when speaking on the Gramlich and Mac Lain podcast earlier this week.

“It’s the SEC-Big Ten Invitational and Notre Dame makes up their own rules. Always have. We’ve been on the ROY team forever. We have,” Dabo Swinney said. “It’s been SEC, Big Ten, Notre Dame and the rest of y’all. It’s been that way for my whole time here at Clemson. But guess what, check our records, you know, versus all of them. Check our records.”

Clemson has certainly fared just fine against the SEC, Big Ten and Notre Dame. The Tigers beat Alabama in 2016 and 2018 to win the national championship. They also are 3-1 against Ohio State under Swinney.

In addition, Swinney has a 4-2 record against Notre Dame as the head coach at Clemson.

Clemson might not always get the respect that Dabo Swinney believes his program deserves, but the Tigers have consistently won at a high level. From 2015 through 2020 Clemson made the College Football Playoff all six years, winning two national titles and playing for two more.

We will soon see if Dabo Swinney can lead Clemson back to the CFP in 2024 and if the Tigers can make some noise if they get in. A win over rival South Carolina on Saturday would certainly help Clemson’s chances.

“We go win this game and we’re 10-2, I don’t see how you can’t put us in,” Dabo Swinney said. “We’ve been able to win at the highest level. But you’ve gotta earn it. You’ve gotta earn it. But what’s also been demonstrated is if you do earn it you’re going to be given the opportunity. It might be somebody else’s invitational but they’ll let you in. They’ll give you a seat at the table.

“But then you’ve gotta handle your business. So it’s really not complicated. None of it matters. We can make all the case we want, but you’ve gotta win the game this weekend. That’s what we’ve got.”