The biggest football decisions being made in this state may not happen on Saturdays. They’re happening in the coaching offices.
Dabo Swinney must decide whether loyalty to veteran players and longtime assistants remains more important than adapting. Clemson cannot keep living off two national championships won before NIL and the transfer portal transformed college football. If a younger player is clearly better, play him. If the roster has holes, use the damn portal.
Shane Beamer faces a different decision. Hiring Kendal Briles was a major step forward, but now Beamer must trust him. Let Briles control the offense, establish the ground game and develop LaNorris Sellers without unnecessary interference or reckless fourth-down decisions.
These choices also affect recruiting throughout South Carolina. Clemson once controlled the state’s best talent almost automatically. That advantage is gone. South Carolina now has an opportunity to become the destination for the state’s top players—but only if the Gamecocks develop them, win meaningful games and keep them out of the portal.
This state produces too much football talent for either program to become complacent. The program that adapts fastest will own South Carolina recruiting—and perhaps determine which head coach still has his job a few years from now.
