UNDERDOG ENERGY: Clemson Tigers and Dabo Swinney Set to PROVE Doubters Wrong in 2026

Clemson Tigers enter the 2026 season fueled by doubt—and that might be exactly what Dabo Swinney needs to engineer a comeback. After a 7-6 finish and waning national expectations, Swinney calls his squad "a bunch of nobodies trying to be somebody," embracing an underdog mentality that has historically brought out Clemson's best. Can a hungrier, overlooked roster rediscover its edge and make Death Valley intimidating again? Morgan Thomas breaks down key storylines, including Christopher Vizzina’s battle to silence critics at quarterback, offensive line questions, and whether leaders like Gideon Davidson and Jaheim Lawson can step up. The episode also explores Swinney’s bold moves—bringing back Chad Morris, increasing transfer portal activity, and revamping the analyst staff—to reignite a winning culture. What does realistic success look like for these Tigers? Tune in for insightful analysis on Clemson's path back to ACC dominance. 00:00 Talent vs. expectations in sports 04:25 Overcoming past challenges at Clemson 09:56 Discussing Dabo Swinney and Clemson 12:03 Dabo Sweeney thrives under pressure 15:04 Changes in college football dynamics 18:26 Evolving Clemson's football strategy 24:08 Desires for Clemson football improvement 27:45 Clemson's potential bounce-back year 28:40 Clemson's evolution and subscription details Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonclemson.supercast.com Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON. Wayfair Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.