ESPN's Paul Finebaum rides to Dabo Swinney and Clemson's defense

Longtime college football commentator Paul Finebaum -- for once -- agrees with Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney. One day after Swinney called attempts to bring former NFL players back into college football "embarrassing," Finebaum said that Swinney was "100 percent right" in an appearance on Wednes

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Longtime college football commentator Paul Finebaum -- for once -- agrees with Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.

One day after Swinney called attempts to bring former NFL players back into college football "embarrassing," Finebaum said that Swinney was "100 percent right" in an appearance on Wednesday's edition of ESPN's "Get Up."

The topic has been at the forefront recently because LSU coach Lane Kiffin, who Clemson will face Saturday night in the teams' season opener, has made efforts to bring former players on 2026 NFL preseason rosters to his own roster in Baton Rouge. LSU men's basketball coach Will Wade and others have made similar efforts to bring former professional players back on to their rosters, as well.

Tight end Dae'Quan Wright,

a former Kiffin player at Ole Miss who was cut by the Cleveland Browns, and Rebels teammates and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who was waived by the New Orleans Saints, are players that were on NFL preseason rosters and have since been practicing with LSU.

Swinney spoke at length about that and other issues in college football on Tuesday. At one point, he seemed to take a jab at Kiffin by saying: "We just kind of -- no pun intended -- stay in our lane here at Clemson. Try to. Every now and then, somebody will ram into us, but we try to just kind of handle our business here."

Finebaum, Swinney's most vocal critic among prominent voices in college football, said Wednesday:

"He just took this beyond DEFCON 1. I realize that's not possible, but I'm going to make it possible for this conversation. You just don't understand the history between these two men, and I think we'll learn more about that in the coming days. But the fact that Dabo Swinney, who -- I don't think I have agreed with Dabo Swinney in 10 years on anything -- he is 100 percent right. And almost everyone in college football agrees with him that does not live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana."

“I don’t think I’ve agreed with Dabo Swinney in ten years on anything. He’s 100% right, and almost everyone in college football agrees with him that does not live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”@finebaum weighs in on Dabo Swinney's comments surrounding Lane Kiffin 😳 pic.twitter.com/Qos5inhO8R
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 2, 2026

Both Wright and Harris are currently eligible to play college football and are set to officially join LSU, if a start court judge allows it at a hearing set for Thursday.

Per USA TODAY's Craig Meyer:

"There’s a hearing scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3 in a state court in Baton Rouge in which a judge will decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction. If the judge does, LSU will have to determine whether it will formally add former professional players to its roster and face potential legal action from the SEC."

To Finebaum's point, Swinney is not the only coach who has spoken out about the idea of former professional players being allowed to return to college. Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian called it "morally wrong," and on Tuesday, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard was even more blunt.

"That's the stupidest s--- I've ever heard," Ballard said.

Kickoff for Clemson-LSU is 7:49 p.m. ET Saturday. The game will be televised on ABC.

ESPN predicts Clemson football odds of pulling upset vs LSU in Week 1

📸 Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports https://t.co/rFIxqiVUCa pic.twitter.com/VZolhRFio3
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) September 2, 2026