Here’s how much Dabo Swinney earned for Clemson winning ACC championship, making CFP
CLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney earned huge bonuses after making the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers (10-3) defeated SMU 34-31 in the ACC championship on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte after freshman Nolan Hauser made a 56-yard field goal as time expired. The win propelled them to the CFP as the No. 12 seed, where they will face No. 5 seed Texas (11-2) on Dec. 21 (4 p.m. ET, TNT) in Austin, Texas, at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
The winner advances to play No. 4 seed Arizona State, the Big 12 champion, in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 1 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Clemson winning the ACC and making the CFP helped Swinney earn $400,000 in bonuses, and the Tigers’ athletic department received $4 million. Here’s the breakdown:
Swinney made $50,000 for Clemson making the ACC championship game. The Tigers went 7-1 in the conference but made the title game after Syracuse upset Miami in the final week of the regular season.
Swinney netted $200,000 for winning the ACC championship. Hauser’s clutch kick propelled Clemson to the CFP and Swinney’s biggest bonus so far this season.
Clemson made the CFP after being the fifth-highest ranked conference championship, which allowed Swinney to earn $150,000.
The ACC adopted a new “success initiative” this season where conference schools can retain more money made by their own postseason success. ACC teams will earn $4 million for making the first round of the CFP, $4 million for quarterfinals, $6 million for semifinals and $6 million for national championship.
Clemson earned $4 million for making the CFP. It can earn $20 million if it becomes the first three-loss team to win the national championship in the CFP era.
Swinney can make $850,000 if Clemson wins the national championship. He would earn $250,000 if it makes the CFP semifinals. The Tigers would need to upset Texas, then defeat Arizona State to reach this stage.
If Clemson makes the national championship, Swinney would net an additional $250,000. If Clemson wins its third CFP national championship, Swinney would earn $350,000.
