Dabo Swinney throws massive shade at Ohio State in Coaches Poll

Dabo Swinney has no respect for Ryan Day’s Ohio State football team in the latest Coaches Poll.

If you want to know what Dabo Swinney thinks of his Clemson Tigers’ Sugar Bowl opponent in Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes, look no further than where he ranked the Ohio State football team in the final Amway Coaches Poll.

While this poll has no influence on the College Football Playoff rankings, it is interesting to see what many of the top coaches in college football think about the teams they compete against. Swinney has his alma mater in the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 1, followed up by his Clemson team at No. 2. Somehow he ended up putting the Big Ten champions all the way at No. 11.

Ryan Day’s Buckeyes have all the motivation they need for the Sugar Bowl now

Fate would have it the Tigers will face the Buckeyes for the second year in a row in the national semifinals. Clemson held on to beat Ohio State in a fantastic Fiesta Bowl last year. While LSU wiped the floor with Clemson in the national championship game, this win by Clemson over Ohio State left a bitter taste in the Buckeyes’ mouth. They have not lost a game since that defeat.

While it is not to say any of the teams Swinney put ahead of the Buckeyes are not quality, but to have the Big Ten champions all the way at No. 11 signifies the Clemson head coach prioritizes games played above all else. Every team above Ohio State in Swinney’s Coaches Poll ballot has played at least nine games this season. Who does Swinney have ranked ahead of Ohio State?

Teams Dabo Swinney put ahead of Ohio State on his Coaches Poll ballot

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Clemson Tigers
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
4. Texas A&M Aggies
5. Florida Gators
6. Georgia Bulldogs
7. Cincinnati Bearcats
8. Oklahoma Sooners
9. Iowa State Cyclones
10. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Between Clemson (No. 2) and Ohio State (No. 11), Swinney put two three-loss, conference runners-up (Florida, Iowa State), two teams Alabama dismantled in SEC play (Texas A&M, Georgia), a team Clemson blew out in the ACC Championship (Notre Dame), a two-loss Power 5 champion (Oklahoma) and two undefeated Group of 5 teams (Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina).

Surely, a Power 5 coach could find a way to justify not having Ohio State as a top-four by virtue of only playing six games. However, the Buckeyes are undefeated and did beat two quality teams (Indiana, Northwestern) en route to winning the Big Ten Championship. Having teams like Florida, Georgia and Iowa State ahead of the Buckeyes with eight combined losses between them is ridiculous.

Look for Day to print out a copy of Dave Revsine of the Big Ten Network’s tweet from Monday morning and display it everywhere in Ohio State’s team facilities as the ultimate bulletin-board material. Ohio State may be a touchdown underdog to Clemson on a neutral site, but this blatant disrespect by Swinney will serve as gasoline to fuel Ohio State’s fire to pull off the playoff upset.

Here is the impetus Ohio State needs to keep Clemson from going back to the national title.

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