- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Oxford Today
By the People, for the People
Spurrier Tells Swinney to Adapt to NIL Era
Former SEC coach says Clemson's Dabo Swinney needs to accept the new college football landscape.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Former Florida and South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier had a blunt message for Clemson's Dabo Swinney regarding NIL (name, image, and likeness) rules in college football. Spurrier said Swinney needs to "start paying his players just like everybody else" and adapt to the changing times, rather than complaining about alleged recruiting violations by other programs.
Why it matters
Swinney has been an outspoken critic of the new NIL rules, which allow college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness. Spurrier's comments highlight the growing divide between coaches who have embraced the NIL era and those, like Swinney, who are resistant to the changes.
The details
Swinney recently accused Ole Miss of tampering with a Clemson player, Luke Ferrelli, who ultimately flipped his commitment to the Rebels. Swinney claimed Ole Miss knew Ferrelli was under contract with Clemson, but contacted him anyway, which would be an NCAA violation. However, Spurrier questioned how much those types of violations are actually being enforced, saying "there ain't no rules anymore." Spurrier believes Swinney needs to adapt to the new landscape and start compensating his players, or "you'll get left behind."
- On January 23, Swinney held a press conference to address the Ferrelli case.
- Spurrier made his comments on Monday during a Zoom call with reporters ahead of his induction into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
The players
Dabo Swinney
The head football coach at Clemson University, who has been an outspoken critic of the new NIL rules in college sports.
Steve Spurrier
The former head football coach at the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina, who is known for his blunt and outspoken style.
Pete Golding
The head football coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
Luke Ferrelli
A football player who was originally committed to Clemson University before flipping his commitment to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
What they’re saying
“I thought by now somebody would've told Dabo, 'Dabo, there ain't no rules anymore,'”
— Steve Spurrier, Former Head Coach (Sporting News)
“I think Dabo has learned now he's got to start paying his players just like everybody else is. Or you'll get left behind. You can complain, but I don't know how good it's going to do.”
— Steve Spurrier, Former Head Coach (Sporting News)
What’s next
The NCAA and SEC have not yet commented on Swinney's claims against Ole Miss, and it remains to be seen if any violations will be found and what potential penalties could be imposed.
The takeaway
Spurrier's blunt comments highlight the growing divide between college football coaches who have embraced the new NIL era and those, like Swinney, who are resistant to the changes. As the landscape of college sports continues to evolve, coaches will need to adapt or risk being left behind.
