CLEMSON — Since he has been the head coach at Clemson, Dabo Swinney has opened a college football season against the likes of Auburn, Georgia and LSU.
He has played one of those three SEC opponents seven times in openers in his now 17 seasons as the Tigers’ head coach.
Swinney’s record in those seven games is 3-4, including last Saturday’s 17-10 loss to now No. 3 LSU. The Tigers, who dropped to No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Poll, have lost its last four openers against SEC foes – three to Georgia and one to LSU.