When Dabo Swinney Knew Ohio State 'Was In Trouble' Last Season

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney did an interview with SC radio station WCCP on Monday, and he drew a line from the teams' conferences to that result. 8-3 in playoff games and Power Five major bowl games, we're 8-3; nonconference records against the SEC, the Big Ten and everybody else, we have the winning record Power Five wins.

At least one of them has a conference championship now, but their impacts were proclaimed by some before they actually happened.

The gauntlet the 2002 team faced on the field probably made a big difference in pulling out that epic Fiesta Bowl against Miami, too, but I don't think it was necessarily an issue last season. I've got a good staff and all that.

Swinney added to his comments Monday. He based his assessment on film he watched of the Buckeyes and the Big Ten.

"That's another reason why we've been so successful", he told host Walt Deptula.

Swinney's Tigers shut out Ohio State, 31-0, on their way to the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship. He said a lot of the credit for that performance went to the strength of the ACC last season. And let me tell you, if they'd have figured it out, they'd have done it. "And I didn't pay no attention to the Big Ten". You just kind of buy it (the Big Ten hype), right? That is just what is out there. And we get ready to play Ohio St., and I am watching film, and I watch every single game. I'm like, 'Boys, these guys are in trouble.' I mean, I've watched the whole league. "I'm going through the whole league, both sides. That's why myself and Jimbo and some of these other coaches are quick to point it out".