​CHARLOTTE, N.C. — What a difference a year makes for Clemson football.At last year’s ACC Kickoff, the Tigers were popular preseason picks to run away with the ACC, make the College Football Playoff and win the national championship.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, Clemson finished with a 7-6 record. It marked the second-worst season in Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s full 17 seasons.”You get what you earn. It’s not what people predict,” Swinney said July 16.This season, Clemson is predicted to miss the conference championship and CFP after immense roster turnover, including losing quarterback Cade Klubnik and eight other players to the NFL draft. Some experts also wonder if this will be Swinney’s final year with the Tigers if Clemson has another disappointing season.1 / 35Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris speaks with media during Clemson football media day at the Allen N. Reeves football complex in Clemson, S.C. Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)”Haters hate, right? As I said, there’s a bunch of hate. I don’t know who wrote that song, but the one thing about haters, when you win, it don’t matter what they say. And when you lose, it don’t matter what you say.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSwinney, who has thrived as the underdog in his coaching career that includes two national championships and nine ACC titles, is welcoming the lack of expectations for his team in 2026.”This year, ain’t none of y’all going to pick us. Ain’t none of y’all going to say anything good about us,” Swinney said.The lack of preseason praise comes after the Tigers used the transfer portal more than ever, which many of Swinney’s critics wanted him to do, and Clemson hired a new offensive coordinator.The Tigers welcomed 11 transfers, a single-season school record, with nine players on defense and two on offense.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, a quarterback wasn’t among the portal players. Despite losing Klubnik, a three-year starter, Swinney is confident in Clemson’s quarterback room led by Christopher Vizzina, who is the frontrunner to be the starter after waiting three seasons.Swinney also expressed confidence in freshman Tait Reynolds, who is competing with Vizzina to be Clemson’s starter after winning the backup job in spring practice.”We made a decision that we weren’t going to go and get some shiny object at quarterback,” Swinney said. “Well, we understand that. If it doesn’t work out, we’re going to be just raked over the coals for that.”MORE: How Dabo Swinney said Clemson football struggles changed Tigers goals for 2026AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSwinney rehired Chad Morris as Clemson’s offensive coordinator after he served in the same role in 2011-14. He helped save Swinney’s job in 2011, winning 10 games and the ACC after the Tigers had a 6-7 season in 2010.However, Morris’ hire was criticized. He was one of the worst coaches in SEC history, winning four games in two se