ACC fines Clemson $10,000, reprimands coach Dabo Swinney for officiating criticism after Duke loss

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney was publicly reprimanded and fined $10,000 by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for criticizing officiating following a narrow 46-45 loss to Duke. The penalty was imposed because Swinney's comments violated the ACC Sportsmanship Policy, which prohibits public criticism of officials and requires such concerns to be addressed only to the conference office. The controversial call involved a pass interference penalty against Clemson late in the game, which extended Duke's drive and led to a game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion. Swinney described the call as one of the worst he has seen in his coaching career, expressing frustration that the game came down to such a decision. The fine will be directed to the ACC's postgraduate scholarship fund, and the ACC has stated the matter is closed with no further comment. Some commentators have suggested Swinney should consider moving on from Clemson due to the team's struggles and his public demeanor.