Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was fined $10,000 and issued a public reprimand by the ACC after making vital postgame feedback a couple of late cross interference name within the Tigers’ 46-45 loss to Duke.
Swinney was apoplectic with each the efficiency of his protection and the officiating Saturday because the Tigers secured their worst season below the Seventeenth-year head coach since 2010.
The Blue Devils snapped a 15-game dropping streak in Demise Valley that dates to 1980, with Darian Mensah hitting Sahmir Hagans on a go-ahead 2-point conversion with 40 seconds left to ship the Tigers to their fifth lack of the season.
Clemson (3-5, 2-4) seemed as if it received the defensive cease it wanted within the last minute to keep away from its fourth ACC loss, however star cornerback Avieon Terrell was referred to as for cross interference on a fourth-and-10 from the 18.
This cross interference name value Clemson the sport. Ideas? pic.twitter.com/gw3qvo3yxF
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) November 1, 2025
“I don’t even actually know what to say in regards to the final name,” Swinney stated. “Y’all noticed it. It shouldn’t come all the way down to that, we had loads of alternatives to win the sport, however that’s one of many worst calls I’ve ever seen in a recreation ever in my whole teaching profession. Ever. A scenario like that, I don’t actually know what else to say. However I don’t need to make {that a} deal as a result of we should always’ve gained the sport. We had loads of alternatives to win the sport. However while you battle your butt off and also you scratch and also you claw and also you get in a scenario like that and you’ve got a name like that, man, that’s simply extra salt within the wound.”
Terrell appeared to have inside place when Mensah heaved it towards Que’Sean Brown, who was slicing throughout the sphere in entrance of the aim line. Terrell was making his approach towards the sideline when he realized a flag was thrown.
Swinney went off on the officers.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney giving the refs an earful after that game-extending defensive cross interference name on 4th and 10 pic.twitter.com/nl73bkZP4S
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) November 1, 2025
On the following play, Nate Sheppard ran it in from 3 yards out, and Duke coach Manny Diaz went for two and the lead.
Mensah discovered Hagans alone on a roll to the suitable for the lead, and Clemson by no means received shut sufficient for a area aim try on its last possession.
“Swinney’s postgame feedback concerning the officiating had been in direct violation of the ACC Sportsmanship Coverage that states: ‘Public criticism of officers or public feedback evaluating the officiating of specific contests isn’t in the most effective curiosity of intercollegiate athletics. People related to the athletics program are prohibited, due to this fact, from commenting whereas appearing in an official capability on officiating apart from on to the Convention workplace,’” the ACC stated Sunday in an announcement.
Clemson began the season ranked No. 4 within the nation, with an skilled crew coming off a School Soccer Playoff look. Now it’s in peril of failing to make a bowl recreation for the primary time since 2004.
“This crew, this season ought to be so a lot better,” Swinney stated.
Swinney, who has gained two nationwide titles with Clemson, recalled how on the finish of the 2010 season, when the Tigers went 6-7, he believed he was going to get fired within the very room he was doing his postgame information convention Saturday. He then joked about athletic director Graham Neff being within the room and that possibly he can be getting fired this time.
“We’ve had 14 nice years, however this has positively been the worst we’ve had since (2010),” Swinney stated.
Early within the day, it was Clemson’s leaky protection that had Swinney seething on the sideline.
He screamed at his gamers for a couple of minute after the Blue Devils tied the rating at 28 with a 43-yard landing cross from Mensah to Brown with 11 seconds left within the first half.
“To win, you’ve received to not lose,” Swinney stated. “That’s simply so simple as that. You need to not lose to Clemson with a purpose to win. That’s the place you begin.”
Cade Klubnik gave Clemson a 45-38 lead early within the fourth quarter with a 75-yard landing cross to T.J. Moore. Klubnik led the Tigers again with 385 yards passing and two landing passes after Duke jumped out to a 21-7 lead within the first quarter.
Mensah handed for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns because the Blue Devils (5-3, 4-1) saved themselves within the ACC title race.
“Demise” Valley pic.twitter.com/77Q4LRXj6v
— Duke Soccer (@DukeFOOTBALL) November 1, 2025
