CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Dabo Swinney appears destined for the College Football Hall of Fame.

He has won eight Atlantic Coast Conference championships in the last 10 years and two national championships, and now his fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers look poised for another run at glory as they kick off the 2025 season Saturday night at home against No. 9 LSU.

Swinney is first to admit it's been one heck of a ride — and he's been “blessed" beyond words.

But it wasn't all trophies and celebrations for the Birmingham, Alabama, native when he took over the Tigers 17 years ago as an interim head coach.

There were tense moments for Swinney early on, none more so than in the moments following the Tigers' lopsided 29-7 defeat to in-state rival South Carolina in November 2010 in front of more than 81,

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