Miami football can spoil Dabo Swinney milestone attempt

Dec 2, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami football team will attempt to end a two-game losing streak and prevent Dabo Swinney from setting the all-time wins record at Clemson. Swinney earned his 165th win as the Clemson head coach with a 17-12 victory over Wake Forest last week. Frank Howard was 165–118–12 as the Clemson head coach from 1940-69.

Swinney is 165–41 since becoming the head coach seven games into the 2008 season. Clemson has dominated Miami with a 5-1 record versus the Hurricanes under Swinney. Unranked Clemson defeated number 10 Miami at what was then known as Land Shark Stadium, 40-37 in overtime in 2008.

Miami avenged the loss a year later with a 30-21 win at Clemson. The Tigers began their run of four straight wins over Miami with a 58-0 win in 2015. The worst loss by Miami to an ACC opponent was the last game ever coached by Al Golden. Clemson has outscored Miami 178-30 in their last four meetings.

A win by Clemson would allow Swinney to pass some of the greatest coaches in the history of college football. Swinney is currently tied for 49th on the all-time list of winningest coaches with Bobby Dodd of Georgia Tech and Fielding Yost of Michigan. A win would tie Swinney with Red Blaik of Army.

Blaik coached Army to national championships from 1944-46 and coached the Black Knights from 1941-58. Before coaching Army, Blaik led the Dartmouth football program from 1934-40. Nick Saban with 286 wins, Mack Brown with 274 and Kirk Ferentz of Iowa with 186 are the only active coaches with more wins than Swinney.

Andy Gustafson holds the all-time Miami football win record with 93 victories, 65 losses and three ties from 1948–1963. Gustafson is only 10th in Miami history with a .587 winning percentage. Gustafson was 3-1 versus Clemson. The sole loss by Miami to Clemson under Gustafson was in the 1951 Orange Bowl game.

Miami has a lot to put behind them versus Clemson. dark. Next

The current four-game losing streak by Miami to Clemson has occurred under four different head coaches. Clemson defeated Miami 38-3 its only appearance in the ACC Championship game in 2017 Mark Richt. Clemson beat Miami 42-17 under Manny Diaz in 2020 and 40-10 under Mario Cristobal in 2022.