Swinney Accuses Ole Miss of 'Blatant Tampering' in Transfer Portal Saga

NCAA to investigate Clemson coach's claims against Pete Golding and the Rebels

Jan. 28, 2026 at 2:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused Ole Miss and head coach Pete Golding of 'blatant tampering' in the recruitment of transfer player Luke Ferrelli. Swinney claims Golding and Ole Miss contacted Ferrelli while he was still enrolled at Clemson, a violation of NCAA rules. The NCAA has confirmed it will investigate Swinney's allegations.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issues around tampering and improper recruiting tactics in college football's transfer portal era. Swinney's public accusations against a rival program could lead to sanctions and further damage the relationship between the two coaching staffs.

The details

Swinney claims that after Ferrelli initially transferred from Cal to Clemson, he then re-entered the portal and signed with Ole Miss. Swinney alleges that during Ferrelli's brief stint at Clemson, Ole Miss was in contact with him and negotiated his move to the Rebels, which would be an NCAA violation. The NCAA has confirmed it will investigate the situation.

  • Ferrelli initially departed Cal for the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason.
  • Ferrelli then signed with Clemson.
  • After a short stint at Clemson, Ferrelli re-entered the transfer portal and signed with Ole Miss.

The players

Dabo Swinney

The head football coach of the Clemson Tigers.

Pete Golding

The head football coach of the Ole Miss Rebels.

Luke Ferrelli

A college football player who transferred from Cal to Clemson and then to Ole Miss.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There's tampering, and then there's blatant tampering. Tampering 101 is when you're talking to kids who aren't in the portal. Tampering 201 is when you've already negotiated the deal with the kids not in the portal. Tampering 301 is when you've got a kid who's going in the portal to sign somewhere, move there, going to classes and you're texting them while they're in class. That's like a whole 'nother level of tampering.”

— Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers Head Coach

What’s next

The NCAA has confirmed it will investigate the allegations of tampering made by Dabo Swinney against Pete Golding and the Ole Miss Rebels. The investigation's findings could lead to potential sanctions or penalties for the program.

The takeaway

This saga highlights the ongoing challenges college football faces in regulating the transfer portal era, where accusations of improper recruiting tactics and tampering have become increasingly common. The outcome of the NCAA's investigation could have significant implications for both Clemson and Ole Miss going forward.