Clemson footballcoach Dabo Swinney called outMississippicoach Pete Golding for recruiting tampering with a then-member of the Tigers' transfer class during his media availability on Friday, Jan. 23.
The two-time national championship head coach specifically called out Golding and Rebels general manager Austin Thomas for contactingnow-former Clemson linebacker Luke Ferrelli, who recently flipped his transfer toOle Missafter he initially transferred to the Tigers after his freshman season at Cal.
"I know you're signed, what's the buyout?" Swinney said of the text Ferrelli toldClemsongeneral manager Jordan Sorrells that he received from Golding during his 8 a.m. class he was taking at Clemson.
Dabo Swinney went on a massive rant against Ole Miss, Pete Golding, Rebels GM Austin Thomas for blatant tampering with Luke FerrelliDabo just put Ole Miss on blast, saying Pete Golding offered him a $1 million contract while in class at Clemson."Like having an affair on your…pic.twitter.com/ivmndCCSDg
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_)January 23, 2026
REQUIRED READING:Dabo Swinney press conference live updates: Clemson coach says Ole Miss tampered with Luke Ferrelli
Swinney continued by stating Ferrelli also disclosed that he received a photo of a $1 million check from Golding and received calls from Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and former Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart. On the call with Chambliss, Swinney said that Ferrelli mentioned Golding — who was named the Rebels' full-time coach following Lane Kiffin's departure for LSU back on Nov. 30 — was also on the call and was trying to "push him to re-enter the transfer portal."
As noted by Derrian Carter of the Greenville News— part of the USA TODAY Network — Swinney mentioned that he turned in the evidence of Ole Miss' continued communication with Ferrelli into the NCAA on Friday, Jan. 16 and reported the matter to AD Graham Neff and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips.
"If you tamper with my players, I'm going to turn you in," Swinney said.
Carter also mentioned that Neff said that Clemson is "exploring" legal options with the situation as well.
Ferrelli flipped his transfer to the Rebels on Thursday, Jan. 22 after reentering the portal on Friday, Jan. 16, the final day it was open for players to enter unless they were playing in the College Football Playoff national championship.
"We have a broken system, and if there are no consequences for tampering, then we have no rules and we have no governance," Swinney said.
In his lone season at Cal, Ferrelli recorded 91 tackles, a sack, an interception and one pass breakup in 13 games this season for Cal. He was additionally named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dabo Swinney blasts Pete Golding for tampering with Luke Ferrelli transfer
