Since 2021, Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney has lost three games or more in each season. Many college football experts believe Swinney’s decision to rely on high school recruits instead of the transfer portal is making the Tigers a less competitive program.

Georgia’s 34-3 win over Clemson on Aug. 31 was a prime example of the issue, as the Bulldogs had touchdowns scored by two transfer players.

During an interview with On3, Swinney defended his method of putting a roster together, saying the team “keeps winning” and touting the program’s 99% graduation rate, the highest in the country for a public power conference. (Notre Dame has a higher graduation rate, but used the portal to great success on their run to the College Football Playoff national championship.)

We just do what’s best for Clemson,” Swinney said. “We’ve always done that year in and year out, regardless of what that is. And as the portal has come about, so again, you can’t have the highest graduation rate in America, and you can’t be top in the country in retention, you know, in this crazy free agent world and go sign a million portal guys.

Clemson keeps winning until they play in important games. Following the 31-point loss to Georgia, the Tigers went 10-2, making the College Football Playoff after winning the ACC Championship Game. Texas crushed the Tigers 38-24 in the first round of the CFP.