Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney disputes a call in the game with Miami during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Ken Ruinard
USA TODAY Network
Clemson
Clemson football dropped to 3-2 and 0-2 against ranked opponents this season after Saturday’s 41-13 home loss against No. 4 Miami at Memorial Stadium.
Here’s a quick recap of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s postgame news conference comments after the ACC loss:
Opening statement
“Congratulations to Miami. Really, really good football team. … Those guys did what they needed to do to win. That quarterback (Darian Mensah), he might be the first pick in the draft.”
“Frustrating game. I thought the crowd was awesome. It was a missed opportunity for us. Those are moments that come often like that, when you get a chance against a (highly ranked) team”
“I thought, defensively, we played tough as crap. … The score’s not indicative of how they competed. … The biggest disappointment defensively was the two explosives in the first half. … Outside of that, they really dug in.”
“The offense didn’t cash in when they had opportunities. I thought there were two opportunities to cash in and change the complexity of the game. … It’s just frustrating. Penalties were a huge part of the game.”
“They were the better team. … But there will be a lot of good stuff that I know I’m gonna see on tape, because I saw it in the game. There was a lot of toughness, a lot of physicality. I saw some good stuff.”
“We’ve got Charleston Southern here in a few weeks. We’ve gotta get healthy (during off week). … There’s still a ton of opportunity for these guys. … We’ve gotta stay focused on learning, getting better.”
Is there a gap between Clemson and teams like LSU, Miami?
“I mean, it is what it is. That’s what people are gonna to look at: the score. Really can’t worry about that. Just gotta win the next game. That’s really it.”
On why Darian Mensah’s first quarter fumble was overturned
“They (the refs) said the ball was going forward. They said his hand was on the ball. It was some tough calls, man. We didn’t have much go our way tonight.”
On RB Jarvis Green’s injury
“His shoulder was bothering him, so we’ll have to see where we are with all of that (later).”
On DE Jahiem Lawson’s injury
“He got banged up, but he was able to come back in there, had a big play.”
On how freshman QB Tait Reynolds played
“He’s tough. He can make the throws. … But just inconsistent in some areas, and he’ll have some decisions he’d like back. … But also had some really good, decisive plays, some big-time scramble plays. He didn’t back down.”
“He didn’t do a good job taking care of the ball. He really hasn’t done a good job of that. … There’ll be some bad things on tape, but there’ll be some good things, too.”
“We didn’t do enough around him to help him.”
On the lack of a run game vs. Miami (55 yards)
“We didn’t (get a rhythm). … There wasn’t a lot there early, and just felt like there was a lot of opportunity there in the passing game. … I just wish we’d executed a little bit better.”
Can this team still compete for an ACC title?
“Absolutely. Absolutely. … We’re still progressing, and we’re just going to keep battling. … Thankful for an open date. We’re gonna use it wisely. … We’ve some weird games, late starts. We need some rest.”
“We hoped we’d be 5-0 right now or 4-1 at worst. But we’re 3-2, 2-1 in the ACC. We’re right here. We’re right there. We’ve just gotta dig in, man. Gotta go play. There’s a lot of opportunity for this team.”
“I think we’ve got good players, and we’ve got a good young quarterback.”
This story was originally published October 4, 2026 at 12:41 AM.
Chapel Fowler, the NSMA’s 2024 South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year, has covered Clemson football and other topics for The State since 2022. His work has also been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the South Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Press Association. He’s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and a pickup basketball/Dunkin’ Donuts enthusiast.
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