Swinney faced immense criticism for his lack of transfer portal use entering this season. Clemson is one of four schools that did not add a portal player; the other three schools are service academies. Yet Saturday's win bolstered his philosophy to recruit and develop high school players with Clemson making the CFP his way.
"I know everybody wants me to be like everybody else. I don't know how to be like everybody else," Swinney said. "We're a very unique and uncommon program."
Swinney backed Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik this season rather than going to the portal after he struggled in his first season as a starter in 2023. Klubnik improved in 2024 and showcased his growth in the ACC championship, passing for 262 yards with four touchdowns.
With the score tied at 31 with 16 seconds remaining, wide receiver Adam Randall, who filled in for injured running back Jay Haynes on the kick return team, took the ball 41 yards to Clemson's 45-yard line. Klubnik then completed a 17-yard pass to wide receiver Antonio Williams to get Hauser in range.
"Get what you can and then get down, and (Swinney will) call a timeout and give ourselves the best chance, and that's what he did," Klubnik said.
Klubnik's performance earned him the ACC Championship MVP for the second time of his career, joining former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Swinney signed the No. 11 recruiting class in 2024, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. That class featured wide receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore, linebacker Sammy Brown, cornerback Ashton Hampton and Hauser. All made critical plays Saturday.
Brown recorded a team-high 14 tackles. Wesco set a career high in receptions (eight), receiving yards (143) and receiving touchdowns (two). Moore had three catches for 32 yards. Hampton started and had a key pass deflection. Hauser converted two of three field goal attempts, including his ACC championship-record 56-yarder.
"We're getting hot at the best time," said tight end Jake Briningstool, who scored two touchdowns. "We're ready for the playoffs, and we're ready to keep on going."
Swinney's philosophy worked well enough for Clemson to make the CFP. The Tigers' next test will be to show it can win multiple games in the postseason. Clemson is 1-2 against teams ranked in the US LBM coaches poll, beating SMU on Saturday and losing to No. 5 Georgia and No. 12 South Carolina.
With Boise State winning the Mountain West and Arizona State becoming the Big 12 champion in blowout fashion, the Tigers will likely play in the first round on the road against Notre Dame, Penn State or Texas on Dec. 20 or 21.
Clemson, which was an underdog Saturday, embraces being doubted. During the championship ceremony, linebacker Barrett Carter paraded a whiteboard around that said "Us Against The World." Briningstool said postgame Clemson wants to continue creating chaos like it did with its upset win vs. SMU.
With the impending settlement of House vs. NCAA lawsuit, which will create changes in compensation for student-athlete in the sport next year, Swinney's transfer portal philosophy likely will be tweaked. Still, Saturday's win displayed his way is strong enough to add another conference title and make the playoffs.
"We just had our 10th (season) win for the 13th time in 14 years and our ninth (ACC) championship in the past 14 years and our seventh CFP," Swinney said. "Even with all that, people still want me to be like everybody else."