Dabo, is that you? Social media reacts to Clemson coach’s look in new EA game
Clemson fans got a first look at Dabo Swinney in “College Football 26” on Tuesday.
Based on social media reaction, EA Sports fell a little short of expectations.
EA Sports announced earlier this year that it was adding head coaches and coordinators to the second edition of its rebooted video game franchise.
A photo of the virtual Swinney emerged in a gameplay video Tuesday:
Fans and media members quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their opinions on how much that version of Swinney looked like the real-life 55-year-old coach, who has been coaching at Clemson since 2009 and won two national titles.
The consensus: Not that much.
“That is NOT Dabo,” one fan wrote.
“Idk who that is,” a second fan said.
“They got the name, but not the image and likeness,” another observer joked.
The virtual Dabo Swinney looked more like former president George W. Bush and actors Jeff Daniels, Liam Neeson, John Goodman and Bob Odenkirk than he did the real Dabo Swinney, according to various social media posters.
“College Football 26” comes out July 10. EA Sports’ videos so far have included a disclaimer that the game’s still in development, so changes could be made.
South Carolina fans had similar reactions (though slightly more positive) when they got a first look at the virtual version of USC coach Shane Beamer earlier this week.
Clemson’s ‘drone show’ revealed in EA Sports trailer
EA Sports’ gameplay video posted Tuesday also gave a virtual hint at something Clemson could be adding to select football home games this year: A drone show.
A drone show involves a large number of computer-programmed drones hovering in the sky and flashing lights to create images and logos. Texas did one during a home night game vs. Georgia last season to great fanfare.
EA Sports made multiple mentions of a Clemson drone show in a blog post Monday, writing that “Clemson’s drones will form a tiger paw in the sky” at Death Valley.
In a gameplay clip released Tuesday, virtual drones are forming a large tiger paw with white lights above the west side of Memorial Stadium, facing The Hill.
Although Clemson revamped its lighting system at Memorial Stadium ahead of the 2022 season, a drone show would be a brand new addition — and a potential way to add to the Tigers’ 2025 season and home opener vs. LSU, which is a night game.
A Clemson athletic department spokesman told The State that while a drone show is under consideration, nothing is official and Clemson has not formally added it for the 2025 season. The school routinely reevaluates and revamps gameday routines.
This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM.
