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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney disputes a call in the game with Miami during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium Saturday, October 3, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ken Ruinard<\/p>\n
USA TODAY Network<\/p>\n
Clemson<\/p>\n
Clemson football dropped to 3-2 and 0-2 against ranked opponents this season after Saturday\u2019s 41-13 home loss against No. 4 Miami at Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a quick recap of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney\u2019s postgame news conference comments after the ACC loss:<\/p>\n
Opening statement<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrustrating 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\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought, defensively, we played tough as crap. … The score\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe offense didn\u2019t cash in when they had opportunities. I thought there were two opportunities to cash in and change the complexity of the game. … It\u2019s just frustrating. Penalties were a huge part of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were the better team. … But there will be a lot of good stuff that I know I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got Charleston Southern here in a few weeks. We\u2019ve gotta get healthy (during off week). … There\u2019s still a ton of opportunity for these guys. … We\u2019ve gotta stay focused on learning, getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is there a gap between Clemson and teams like LSU, Miami?<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it is what it is. That\u2019s what people are gonna to look at: the score. Really can\u2019t worry about that. Just gotta win the next game. That\u2019s really it.\u201d<\/p>\n
On why Darian Mensah\u2019s first quarter fumble was overturned<\/p>\n
\u201cThey (the refs) said the ball was going forward. They said his hand was on the ball. It was some tough calls, man. We didn\u2019t have much go our way tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
On RB Jarvis Green\u2019s injury<\/p>\n
\u201cHis shoulder was bothering him, so we\u2019ll have to see where we are with all of that (later).\u201d<\/p>\n
On DE Jahiem Lawson\u2019s injury<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got banged up, but he was able to come back in there, had a big play.\u201d<\/p>\n
On how freshman QB Tait Reynolds played<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s tough. He can make the throws. … But just inconsistent in some areas, and he\u2019ll have some decisions he\u2019d like back. … But also had some really good, decisive plays, some big-time scramble plays. He didn\u2019t back down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t do a good job taking care of the ball. He really hasn\u2019t done a good job of that. … There\u2019ll be some bad things on tape, but there\u2019ll be some good things, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t do enough around him to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the lack of a run game vs. Miami (55 yards)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t (get a rhythm). … There wasn\u2019t a lot there early, and just felt like there was a lot of opportunity there in the passing game. … I just wish we\u2019d executed a little bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can this team still compete for an ACC title?<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely. Absolutely. … We\u2019re still progressing, and we\u2019re just going to keep battling. … Thankful for an open date. We\u2019re gonna use it wisely. … We\u2019ve some weird games, late starts. We need some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hoped we\u2019d be 5-0 right now or 4-1 at worst. But we\u2019re 3-2, 2-1 in the ACC. We\u2019re right here. We\u2019re right there. We\u2019ve just gotta dig in, man. Gotta go play. There\u2019s a lot of opportunity for this team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve got good players, and we\u2019ve got a good young quarterback.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published October 4, 2026 at 12:41 AM.<\/p>\n
Chapel Fowler, the NSMA\u2019s 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\u2019s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and a pickup basketball\/Dunkin\u2019 Donuts enthusiast.
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