SEC Head Coach Calls for 'Severe Penalties' on Ole Miss Football Amid Clemson Battle

South Carolina's Shane Beamer says rules must be enforced after Dabo Swinney accused Ole Miss of 'blatant' tampering with a transfer player.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused Ole Miss of 'blatant' tampering after a transfer player initially signed with Clemson, then left for Ole Miss. Now, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is calling for 'severe penalties' if the allegations against Ole Miss are true, saying the NCAA and SEC need to enforce their rules.

Why it matters

This situation highlights the ongoing issues around player transfers and tampering in college football. As the transfer portal continues to grow, allegations of improper recruiting tactics have become more common, raising questions about the enforcement of NCAA rules.

The details

Swinney accused Ole Miss of improperly contacting Cal Bears transfer Luke Ferrelli while he was still enrolled at Clemson for the spring semester, before Ferrelli ultimately signed with the Rebels. Beamer says the penalties for such 'blatant' tampering should be severe, arguing that the NCAA and SEC need to enforce their rules or else they are meaningless.

  • In January, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused Ole Miss of 'blatant' tampering with a transfer player.
  • On February 4, 2026, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer called for 'severe penalties' if the allegations against Ole Miss are proven true.

The players

Dabo Swinney

The head coach of the Clemson Tigers football team.

Shane Beamer

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks football team.

Luke Ferrelli

A transfer player who initially signed with Clemson before ultimately signing with Ole Miss.

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What they’re saying

“What Dabo did? Yes, absolutely, being able to call it out, and I'm sure he, like other schools, turns stuff in when there's issues and if there's issues with something. Then, if there's things that need to be turned into the NCAA or the SEC, we have, but certainly to be able to call someone out publicly like that was the next step, and we'll see what happens.”

— Shane Beamer, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks (si.com)

“What the penalty should be, that's for other people to figure out, but I believe it should be severe. I mean, if we have rules and we're not going to enforce them, then what the hell do we have rules for?”

— Shane Beamer, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks (si.com)

What’s next

The NCAA and SEC will need to investigate the allegations against Ole Miss and determine if any rules were violated. If so, they will need to decide on appropriate penalties.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing NCAA rules around player transfers and recruiting, as the transfer portal continues to create new opportunities for potential tampering. Strict enforcement of the rules will be crucial to maintaining integrity in college football.