Paul Finebaum has increasingly targeted Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in recent days and weeks, especially in talks about top programs and coaches across the country.

Earlier this week on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on the SEC Network, Finebaum strongly criticized Bill Bender of The Sporting News and his ranking of Swinney as No. 2 in the country behind Alabama’s Nick Saban and ahead of Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Bender’s point was that he looks at those coaches over a three-year period, but Finebaum considered Swinney a dated coach in today’s college football.

“They play in a league that speaks for itself,” Finebaum said Thursday during a guest appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, via AL.com. “I don’t need to waste your time on the ACC. We know where that league is going. Dabo Swinney is not the second-best coach in the country. Not at all. …

“The program will be highly regarded this year because they have a really easy schedule, as always.”

While Clemson has been at the top of the college football world for the last several years, the Tigers have waned in the current landscape, mainly because DJ Uiagalelei has not continued the national dominance at quarterback and standard that Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence established.

“We saw how he made a mess out of the next great quarterback last year,” he said, then noted that, not surprisingly, that the Clemson fan base didn’t appreciate these comments.

“There is no doubt after reading social media (Wednesday), the most insecure, paranoid fanbase of college football in America is Clemson. The Clemsonites take it to a whole new level. It’s one thing if you’ve never won a national championship. … But these guys have won two in recent years and they are just so desperate for attention. They are so desperate for adulation. They are so desperate to be loved.”

He did have a message for Clemson fans, though.

“I just laugh at Clemson fans,” he said. “Get over yourself, OK? You’re not that important. This (is) 2022. College football has left you behind.”