Dabo Swinney calls for a major update to college football, and he’s not wrong

Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney is pushing for college football to implement what the NFL and high school football has utilized before the season.

Football fans, the college season is only a couple of months away. This weekend some of the top programs in the country are holding their annual spring games, in which they get to evaluate how their players are doing and who is deserving to start for the 2023 season.

One prominent coach is pushing for the college level of football to implement something that is done at the NFL and high school levels.

This past Thursday, Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney pushed for college football to implement the ability to have preseason games against another team.

“I’d love it. I’ve said that a million years,” Swinney said, h/t On3. “I’d love to play somebody in the fall. We’re the only level of football that doesn’t get a chance to scrimmage somebody – even the pros.”

Dabo Swinney is pushing for college football to implement preseason games

Swinney also commented on the spring game, saying he would rather hold a scrimmage against another school in the fall, just before the start of the season.

“The spring game, there’d be some interest in that, I guess. But to me, I’d rather have it in the fall, fall camp. Even if it’s just being able to practice against somebody, do some inside drill against somebody else, do some 1-on-1, do some 7-on-7, like you see in high school,” Swinney said, h/t On3. “They go and work against each other. They practice against each other. You see it in the pros. So maybe have a day of camp embedded with somebody. I think that’d be great.”

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has proposed playing another in-state program in a scrimmage for their spring game. With that, they would give the proceeds from the game to charity. Coaches like Colorado’s Deion Sanders, UAB’s Trent Dilfer, and Alabama’s Nick Saban supported the idea.

In the NFL, teams hold joint practices with other teams during training camp. That gives teams the opportunity to play against other players besides their own. Of course, there is the high likelihood that both teams could get into a skirmish.

Clemson is looking to build off of their 2022 season, where they saw the rise of top quarterback recruit Cade Klubnik, who took over for D.J. Uiagalelei. The team was in contention for the College Football Playoff, but late season losses to Notre Dame and South Carolina ended their chances. The Tigers made it to the Orange Bowl, but lost 31-14 to the Tennessee Volunteers.

On Sept. 4, Clemson is set to begin their 2023 season against the Duke Blue Devils.

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