Ahead of the ACC Championship Game against the SMU Mustangs on Saturday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney voiced his frustrations with the state of officiating in college football this season. While many teams have expressed dissatisfaction with the referees, Swinney has become one of the most outspoken critics.
Though his team still has a chance to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win, Swinney didn’t hold back when discussing the issue. “It’s a problem all over the country. It really is,” he said. “To me, it has been one of the worst years in my entire coaching career. It has been really bad. I mean bad.” His main gripe was with the inconsistency in targeting calls. He criticized the way some targeting calls aren’t reviewed, while others seem to be fabricated. He believes it’s a widespread issue affecting all teams, not just his own.
The problem with officiating hasn’t been confined to college football; the NFL has faced similar criticism this season. Poor officiating has led to questionable calls that have cost teams games, a problem that seems to be happening more frequently this year.
While Swinney’s comments are likely to resonate with many Clemson fans, the timing is concerning. With the Tigers’ playoff hopes on the line, their fate could be impacted by the referees’ decisions on Saturday. Swinney’s critique of the officials is valid, but fans can only hope it doesn’t result in any biased calls against Clemson in the championship game. The hope is that the problems with officiating across football are addressed moving forward.
