Clemson's Week 1 matchup with LSU is arguably the biggest on the slate, but the buildup to Saturday's blockbuster has been dominated by the possible return of released NFL rookies to college football.
Former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright is now with Lane Kiffin and the Tigers after being cut by the Cleveland Browns. Wright is awaiting a preliminary injunction hearing Thursday that should determine whether he can play against Clemson.
Regardless of the decision, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't think players should be allowed to return after leaving for the pros.
"I would just say it's kind of embarrassing," Swinney said, according to ESPN. "Honestly, it's just embarrassing that that's where we are. I don't blame the kids and people trying to take advantage of the system. I just think it's embarrassing where we are with college football, and we've been there for a while."
Swinney has long been one of the more vocal critics of the transfer portal, but he's finally brought players to Clemson from other schools in the past few years.
"There's zero rules, and when you enforce rules, somebody just goes and finds a judge to say, 'No, you can't enforce that rule,'" said Swinney. "Never did I think I'd be living in an era like this, but that's where we are."
The court orders that are at least temporarily allowing NFL cuts to return to college stem from a new NCAA rule granting most student-athletes five years of eligibility over a five-year span once they enroll in school. The NCAA excluded players who graduated high school in 2022 who would have gained a fifth season of eligibility in 2026. That sent Wright - and a number of other players - to the NFL under the impression they were out of eligibility, and several are suing for a fifth year.
Kiffin has been among the most active coaches in pursuing the NFL cuts.
"No pun intended, we just stay in our lane here at Clemson," Swinney said.
