Overview
- The ACC fined Clemson $10,000 and issued a public reprimand for Swinney’s postgame officiating comments under its sportsmanship policy that bans public evaluation of officials.
- Days after the penalty, Swinney repeated that referees face “no public accountability” and criticized a postgame review process capped at 10 submitted plays as opaque.
- Swinney called for structural changes that include full-time officiating staffs and greater opportunity to challenge calls.
- His frustration centers on a late fourth-down pass-interference flag on Avieon Terrell that extended Duke’s drive before the 46–45 finish.
- Clemson fell to 3–5, Swinney offered blunt self-criticism of his own performance, and the Tigers now turn to a home game against Florida State.