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{{short description|College Football Bowl Subdivision team; member of Atlantic Coast Conference}}
{{Infobox NCAA football school
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
| CurrentSeason = 2015 Clemson Tigers football team
{{Infobox college football team
| TeamName = Clemson Tigers football
| Image = Clemson University Tiger Paw logo.svg | TeamName = Clemson Tigers football
| CurrentSeason = 2024 Clemson Tigers football team
| ImageSize = 125
| Helmet = | Image = Clemson Tigers logo.svg
| ImageSize = 150
| HeadCoachDisplay = Dabo Swinney
| FirstYear = ]; {{Years or months ago|1896}}
| HeadCoachLink = Dabo Swinney
| HeadCoachYear = 8th (7th full) | LastYear =
| AthleticDirector = ]
| HCWins = 66
| HCLosses = 26 | HeadCoach = ]
| HCTies = | HeadCoachYear = 15th
| Stadium = Memorial Stadium, Clemson|Memorial Stadium | HCWins = 180 <!-- As of games through 9/22/24-->
| HCLosses = 47 <!-- As of games through 9/22/24-->
| StadCapacity = 81,473 (86,092 record)
| StadSurface = Natural Grass | HCTies =
| Location = ] | Stadium = ]
| StadCapacity = 82,000
| ConferenceDisplay = ACC (1953–present)
| ConferenceLink = Atlantic Coast Conference | FieldName = ]
| StadiumBuilt = 1942
| ConfDivision = ACC Atlantic Division (2005–present)
| StadSurface = Natural Grass
| FirstYear = {{start date and age|1896|p=yes}}
| Traditions = ], ], ],
| AthlDirectorDisp = Dan Radakovich
| Location = ]
| AthlDirectorLink = Dan Radakovich
| NCAAdivision = I FBS
| Radio = WCCP-FM (105.5) ''flagship''
| Announcers = Don Munson, Rodney Williams | Conference = ]
| PastAffiliations = ] (SIAA) (1896–1921)<br />] (SoCon) (1921–1952)
| WebsiteName = ClemsonTigers.com
| ATWins = 804<!-- As of games through 10/19/24-->
| WebsiteURL = http://www.clemsontigers.com
| ATLosses = 473<!-- As of games through 9/8/24-->
| Facebook = http://www.facebook.com/ClemsonTigersFootball
| ATWins = 694 | ATTies = 44
| ATLosses = 455 | BowlWins = 27
| ATTies = 45 | BowlLosses = 23
| BowlWins = 19 | BowlTies =
| PlayoffApps = 7 (], ''']''', ], ''']''', ], ], ])
| BowlLosses = 18
| Playoffs = ''6–4 ''({{Winning percentage|6|4}})
| BowlTies =
| NatlTitles = 3 (], ], ])
| NatlTitles = 1 (1981)
| UnNatlTitles = 0
| ConfTitles = 20 (4 SIAA, 2 SoCon, 14 ACC)
| NatlFinalist = ''4'' (], ], ], ])
| DivTitles = 2 (2009, 2011)
| ConfTitles =
''28 '''TOTAL'''''
ACC: 22


SIAA: 5
*ACC Divisions were added in 2005
SoCon: 2
| AllAmericans = 23<ref>{{cite web|title=NCAA Football Award Winners|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|accessdate=18 July 2014|pages=4–12|format=PDF|year=2014}}</ref>
| uniform = Image:ACC-Uniform-Clemson.png | DivTitles = 9
| Rivalries = ] (])<br />] (])<br />] (])<br />] (])<br />] (])<br />] (])
| Color1 = Orange
<br />] (])
| Color1Hex = F66733
| Heismans =
| Color2 = Regalia<ref name="Clemson Color Palette">{{cite web | title= Clemson Color Palette | url=http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/creative-services/visual-guide/colors.html}}</ref>
| Color2Hex = 522D80 | AllAmericans = 31
| FightSong = ] | uniform = ]
| MascotDisplay = The Tiger | FightSong = ]
| MascotLink = | Mascot = The Tiger
| MarchingBand = Tiger Band | MarchingBand = ]
| PagFreeLabel = Rivals | PagFreeLabel = Outfitter
| PagFreeValue = ]
| PagFreeValue = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| WebsiteName = clemsontigers.com
| WebsiteURL = https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/
}} }}


The '''Clemson Tigers football''' team, known traditionally as the "Clemson University Fighting Tigers", represents ] in the sport of ]. The Tigers compete in the ] (FBS) of the ] (NCAA) and the ] of the ] (ACC). Formed in 1896, the program has achieved a Consensus ] ], 20 conference championships,<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Clemson Football Media Guide|url=http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/28500/pdf/football/2014-15/MediaGuide.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=28500|publisher=Clemson University|accessdate=16 May 2015|page=66|format=PDF|year=2014}}</ref> 5 undefeated seasons, 3 divisional titles since 2005, has produced 68 ], 15 ]s, and 169 ] players.<ref>{{cite web| title=2011 Clemson Media Guide & Supplement |url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071911aab.html|publisher=Clemson Sports Information|accessdate=22 July 2011|pages=182–188, 190–194|year=2011}}</ref> Clemson has had six members inducted into the ]. ] has the 26th highest ranked college football program in FBS history when calculated by the win/loss ratio (.599). When calculated by sheer number of wins Clemson ranks 23rd with 690 total wins in program history. The '''Clemson Tigers football''' program are the ] team at ]. The Tigers compete in the ] ] (FBS) of the ] (NCAA) of the ] (ACC). In recent years, the Tigers have been ranked among the most elite college football programs in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=College Football Playoff |url=http://collegefootballplayoff.com/rankings.aspx |access-date=January 7, 2019 |website= |archive-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104061743/http://collegefootballplayoff.com/rankings.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Whicker |first=Mark |date=2017-01-05 |title=Clemson crashing the party of elite football schools |url=http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20170105/clemson-crashing-the-party-of-elite-football-schools |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429125042/https://www.dailynews.com/2017/01/05/clemson-crashing-the-party-of-elite-football-schools/ |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |access-date=January 7, 2019 |website=Los Angeles Daily News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/29/sports/clemson-notre-dame-playoff.html|title=Clemson Crushes Notre Dame to Reach Its 3rd National Title Game in 4 Seasons|last=Tracy|first=Marc|date=December 29, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 7, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106022643/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/29/sports/clemson-notre-dame-playoff.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


Formed in 1896, the program has an all-time record of 804–473–44,<ref></ref> with a bowl record of 27-23. Clemson was a ] finalist in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019, defeating Alabama in both 2016 and 2018 to secure the national title. Clemson has had six undefeated seasons (including the first-ever 15–0 team), boasted six consecutive playoff appearances from 2015 to 2021, and retains 27 conference championships, ]. Its alumni include over 100 ], 17 ]s and ] players in the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 Clemson Football Media Guide|url=http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/28500/pdf/football/2015-16/2015ClemsonFootballGuide.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=28500|publisher=Clemson University|access-date=October 28, 2015|page=51|format=PDF|year=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726202545/http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/28500/pdf/football/2015-16/2015ClemsonFootballGuide.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=28500|archive-date=July 26, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Clemson Media Guide & Supplement |url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071911aab.html |publisher=Clemson Sports Information |access-date=July 22, 2011 |pages=182–188, 190–194 |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503102550/http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071911aab.html |archive-date= May 3, 2012 }}</ref> Clemson has had eight members inducted into the ]: players ], ], ], and ] along with coaches ], ], ], and ].
With 20 total conference titles, Clemson is one of the founding members of the ACC. For a number of years Clemson held the most titles at 14. In 2014 though, FSU defeated Georgia Tech to earn their 15th ACC title and bypassed Clemson in this category. The Tigers' most recent ACC championship came in 2011 with a ] win over 5th-ranked ].


Clemson is one of the founding members of the ACC and holds 22 ACC titles, the most of any member. Its 28 total conference titles, including six consecutive ACC titles from 2015 to 2020, are the most of any ACC school. Clemson's most recent ACC title came in 2024, against SMU. Clemson's streak of eleven consecutive 10-win seasons from 2011-2022 ranked second in active streaks behind the ], coming to an end after Clemson's 2023 season where they finished with a 9-4 record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2019/1/4/18164629/alabama-clemson-playoff-championship-history|title=Bama-Clemson is among America's best sports duopolies ever|last=Bird|first=Michael|date=January 4, 2019|website=SBNation.com|access-date=January 7, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107124421/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2019/1/4/18164629/alabama-clemson-playoff-championship-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gilliland |first=Zach |date=2014-12-29 |title=Russell Athletic Bowl 2014: Live Score, Highlights for Oklahoma vs. Clemson |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2313812-russell-athletic-bowl-2014-live-score-highlights-for-oklahoma-vs-clemson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022106/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2313812-russell-athletic-bowl-2014-live-score-highlights-for-oklahoma-vs-clemson |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> Among its eight undefeated regular seasons, Clemson has been crowned national champion 3 times. Clemson was named poll-era national champion and finished with its third perfect season with a win over Nebraska in the ]. Clemson was the ] with a 14–1 record in 2015 before winning the National Title over No. 1 Alabama in college football's first ] in 2016, and again in 2018. The Tigers have 46 bowl appearances, 20 of which are among the ] Bowls, including nine during the "Big Four" era. Clemson has 34 finishes in the final top 25 in the modern era and it finished in either the Associated Press final poll or the coaches' final poll a combined 59 times since 1939.
Among its five undefeated seasons, Clemson won their first and only poll-era national football championship in 1981 with a ] win over ] in the Orange Bowl. The Tigers have 37 total bowl appearances. Former players ], ], and ] have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Former coaches ], ], and ] are also inductees into the Hall. The Tigers have finished in the Final Top 25 rankings 29 times in the program's history.


The Tigers play their home games in ] on the university's ] campus. The stadium is also known as "Death Valley" after a ] head coach gave it the moniker in 1948 due to the many defeats his teams suffered there. Currently, it is the ]. The Tigers play their home games in ] on the university's ] campus. The stadium's nickname, "Death Valley" was coined in 1948 by ] head coach Lonnie McMillan after his teams were routinely defeated there. Memorial Stadium is among the ].

Clemson currently has four consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins. This ranks 4th in active 10 or more win seasons. Alabama and Oregon are tied for 1st with seven straight seasons a piece. NIU is 3rd with five and Clemson is in 4th with four straight. ] and ] are tied for 5th with 3 each. Clemson currently has ten straight seasons with a bowl game appearance.


==History== ==History==
{{main|History of Clemson Tigers football}}
{{See also|List of Clemson Tigers football seasons}}
], the "father of Clemson football"]]


], often regarded as the "father of Clemson football," brought the sport to Clemson from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now ]). The team's first game, played on Halloween 1896, resulted in a 2–1 record for the inaugural season. Riggs influenced the choice of the team mascot and colors. The Tigers’ early success included their first undefeated season in 1900 under coach ], who led the team to a 19–3–2 record. Heisman’s coaching set a precedent for excellence and innovation.
===Early history (1896–1930)===
]
] can be characterized as the "Father of Clemson Football," as he brought the game with him from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now ]). The fact that Auburn and Clemson share the same mascot is no accident. Riggs allowed his players to pick the team mascot and, although he may have influenced their decision, the players chose Tigers because ] had just won the national championship. Riggs helped organize and coach the infant Tiger team in 1896. With little money to spend on uniforms, Riggs brought some of Auburn's old practice uniforms with him, which happened to have orange and navy jerseys.<ref>http://bleacherreport.com/articles/846763-auburn-vs-clemson-two-teams-created-with-one-vision-100-years-ago</ref> Because the jerseys had gone through a few washboard scrubbings, they were quite faded, the navy worse than the orange. So Riggs made the school’s predominant color orange and the faded condition of the navy became the purplish color, officially known today as Regalia.<ref>http://bleacherreport.com/articles/846763-auburn-vs-clemson-two-teams-created-with-one-vision-100-years-ago</ref>


During the mid-20th century, the program experienced substantial growth under ], who coached from 1940 to 1969. Howard's tenure saw Clemson win two Southern Conference championships and six ACC championships. Known for his colorful personality and imaginative storytelling, Howard integrated various offensive formations. His legacy includes the tradition of rubbing "Howard's Rock" before home games and the naming of the playing field at ] as "Frank Howard Field" in 1974.
When the Tigers traveled to Greenville on ] to play ] in their very first match, only Coach Riggs and backfield player Frank Thompkins had ever seen a football game played. Today in Clemson, the soccer field is named Historic Riggs field after Walter Riggs. Riggs took the team to a 2&ndash;1 record in the inaugural year. He then stepped aside at the urging of the cadets, who felt that he should concentrate on his scholastic duties rather than coach the team for free. ] coached the Tigers in 1897, guiding them to a 2&ndash;2 record. In 1898, ] led the Tigers to a 3&ndash;1 record.


The late 20th century and early 21st century saw the football program navigate through challenges and successes under multiple head coaches. ] led the Tigers to their first ], achieving an undefeated season. Ford's era was marked by NCAA sanctions due to recruiting violations, which impacted the program's reputation and success. ], Ford’s successor, focused on cleaning up the program's image but faced criticism from fans, leading to his resignation. Subsequent coaches, including ], struggled to achieve consistent success until the hiring of ] in 1999, who maintained bowl eligibility every season, but failed to secure an ACC championship.
In 1899, when the Clemson Athletic Association could not afford a coaching salary, Riggs again took over the reins, one of only two Clemson football coaches to return to the position after stepping down. The 1899 squad went 4&ndash;2. Riggs' overall record of 6&ndash;3 gives him a .667 winning percentage.
]]]
The modern era is defined by the leadership of ], who became head coach in 2008. Swinney revitalized the program, leading the Tigers to multiple ACC championships and two national titles in 2016 and 2018. His tenure has been characterized by significant achievements, including the establishment of Clemson as a perennial contender in the College Football Playoff. Swinney’s ability to recruit and develop talent, combined with strategic hires like offensive coordinator ] and defensive coordinator ], has sustained Clemson’s success. Notably, under Swinney, Clemson became the first team since 1897 to finish a season 15–0. In 2022, Clemson defeated Syracuse 27–21, extending the Tigers' home winning streak to 38, a new ACC record.


==Conference affiliations==
After a decade as a ] professor, he was named acting president of ] in 1910, being confirmed by the Board of Trustees as permanent president on March 7, 1911. He served until his untimely death on January 22, 1924 while on a trip to ] to meet with officials of other land grant institutions.
* ] (1896–1921)
* ] (1921–1953)
* ] (1953–present)


==Championships==
]
===National championships===
] coached the Tigers to their first undefeated season (6&ndash;0) in 1900.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Heisman|url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/heisman_john00.html|publisher=CBSSports.com COLLEGE NETWORK|accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> Heisman stayed only four years at Clemson, where he compiled a record of 19&ndash;3&ndash;2, an .833 percentage, the best in Clemson football history.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Heisman|url=http://www.tigernet.com/football/history/heisman.jsp|publisher=John Heisman|accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> Clemson stars under Heisman include ], ], and ]. Following a 73&ndash;0 defeat of ] in 1903, the Yellow Jackets hired Heisman as their first full-time football coach.
Clemson claims three ]. In 1981 they finished as the only undefeated team with a 22–15 victory over the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl, and were named the national champions<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Papanek|first=John|title=Year of the Tigers|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125133/1/index.htm|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=September 6, 2011|date=January 11, 1982|archive-date=November 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104190434/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125133/1/index.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> by all major four consensus selectors <ref>{{Cite web |title=Football Bowl Subdivision records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101032438/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf |archive-date=2020-11-01 |website=NCAA.org |page=101}}</ref> (], ], ], and ]). In 2016 and 2018 they won the ], defeating Alabama in the ] both times.


{| class="wikitable"
After Heisman left Clemson to become the head coach at Georgia Tech, the following coaches led the Tigers football team:
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year|Coach|Selector|Record|Bowl|Final AP|Final Coaches}}
*] (1904): 3&ndash;3&ndash;1 record - the only Clemson graduate (1899) to serve as head coach of his alma mater
|-
*Edward B. Cochems (1905): 3&ndash;2&ndash;1 record
| ] || ] || ], ], ], ]<sup>†</sup> || 12–0 || Won ] || '''No. 1''' || '''No. 1'''
*] (1906, 1909, 1913&ndash;1915): 21&ndash;14&ndash;6 record; only coach to serve as Clemson's head coach three times; also coached at ]
|-
*] (1907): 4&ndash;4 record
| ] || rowspan="2"|] || AP, Coaches, ], NFF<sup>††</sup> || 14–1 || Won ] (CFP Semifinal)<br />Won ] || '''No. 1''' || '''No. 1'''
*] (1908): 1&ndash;6 record
*] (1910&ndash;1912): 11&ndash;12&ndash;1 record; also coached at South Carolina
*] (1916): 3&ndash;6 record
*] (1917&ndash;1920): 21&ndash;12&ndash;3 record
*] (1921&ndash;1922): 6&ndash;10&ndash;2 record
*] (1923&ndash;1926): 10&ndash;22&ndash;1 record


|-
===Josh Cody era (1927&ndash;1930)===
| ] || AP, Coaches, CFP, NFF<sup>†††</sup> || 15–0 || Won ] (CFP Semifinal)<br />Won ] || '''No. 1''' || '''No. 1'''
] coached the Tigers from 1927 to 1930, posting a 29&ndash;11&ndash;1 record. The Tigers were undefeated at home (13-0-1) and against South Carolina (3&ndash;0) during Cody's tenure. ] made third-team ].


|-
===Jess Neely era (1931–1939)===
|}
In 1931, ] (a former head coach at ] and assistant at ]) became Clemson's head football coach. During his tenure, Neely led the Tigers to a 43-35-7 record. His final season at Clemson was the turning point in the Tigers' program. His team went 9-1 during that season, finishing second to ] in the ]. The Tigers also received their first bowl invitation and bowl victory that year, defeating nationally ranked ] 6-3 in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic. The 1939 Tigers finished with a #12 ranking in the final ]. Clemson also had their first Associated Press All-American that year in ]. Jess Neely, along with then athletic director Rupert Fike, founded the ] Scholarship Fund, which supports the Clemson Athletic Department.
† Other selectors for 1981 included Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, Helms, Litkenhous, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, New York Times, Poling, Sagarin, and Sporting News<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions|url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/NCAA/Sports%20and%20Championship/General%20Information/ia_football_past_champs.html|publisher=NCAA|access-date=September 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611074306/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Fncaa%2FNCAA%2FSports%20and%20Championship%2FGeneral%20Information%2Fia_football_past_champs.html|archive-date=June 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />†† Other selectors for 2016 include A&H, BR, CCR, CFRA, DuS, MCFR, SR, W<br />††† Other selectors for 2018 include A&H, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, MCFR, SR, W


===Conference championships===
===Frank Howard era (1940–1969)===
Clemson won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1900 and 1902 (tied 1903 and 1906) along with the Southern Conference title in 1940 and 1948.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Clemson Football Media Guide|url=http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/28500/pdf/football/2014-15/MediaGuide.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=28500|publisher=Clemson University|access-date=May 16, 2015|page=66|format=PDF|year=2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230042419/http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/28500/pdf/football/2014-15/MediaGuide.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=28500|archive-date=December 30, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their 22 ] titles (20 outright, 2 tied) are the most ACC football championships.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}{{when|date=April 2018}} In 1965, ] violated participation rules relating to two ineligible players and was required to forfeit wins against North Carolina State and Clemson.<ref name="mediaguidelist">{{cite journal|title=ACC Champions|journal=2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide (PDF)|publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference|year=2007|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07fbguide093096.pdf|page=93|access-date=September 5, 2011|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212605/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07fbguide093096.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> North Carolina State and Clemson were then declared co-champions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestate.com/2009/10/11/979470/usc-footballs-lost-title-team.html |title=USC football's lost title team of 1965 |author=Alex Riley |date=October 11, 2009 |newspaper=] |access-date=September 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825081821/http://www.thestate.com/2009/10/11/979470/usc-footballs-lost-title-team.html |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
After Jess Neely left to become the head coach at ], ] (an assistant coach under Neely) was named head coach. In his 30 years at Clemson, Howard compiled a 165&ndash;118&ndash;12 record, a 3&ndash;3 bowl record, won two Southern Conference championships, and six ACC championships. Seven of Howard's teams finished the year ranked in at least one final poll. He also incorporated the Single Wing, T-formation, and I-formation offenses at different points during his coaching career at Clemson. Clemson had two undefeated season under Howard, one in 1948 (11-0), and one in 1950 (9-0-1).


{| class="wikitable"
The tradition of rubbing "]" prior to running down the hill before home games began during Coach Howard's tenure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gift from Death Valley became "Death Valley" tradition|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3017840|publisher=Mark Schlabach|accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> The playing field at ] was named "Frank Howard Field" in 1974 following his retirement to honor his many years of service for the university. He was inducted into the ], the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Clemson Hall of Fame, the Clemson Ring of Honor, the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame, the State of Alabama Hall of Fame, National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame.
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year|Coach|Conference|Overall record|Conference record}}

===Hootie Ingram era (1970–1972)===
Clemson struggled during the years following Frank Howard's retirement. His successor, ], only compiled a 12&ndash;21 record. During his tenure, the tradition of running down the hill was stopped from 1970 to the end of the 1972 season, when the team decided it wanted to come down the hill for the final home game against South Carolina. The traditional ], which was designed by ] of Henderson Advertising, was introduced in 1970 by Ingram and Clemson President R.C. Edwards.<ref name=pc>{{cite news|first=Aaron|last=Brenner|title=1970 designer of Clemson’s Tiger Paw logo, John Antonio, dies of cancer |url=http://blog.postandcourier.com/tiger-tracks/2013/05/30/1970-designer-clemsons-tiger-paw-logo-john-antonio-dies-cancer-thursday/ |work=] |publisher=|date=2013-05-30 |accessdate=2013-06-29}}</ref>

===Red Parker era (1973–1976)===
] coached the Tigers from 1973–1976, compiling a 17-25-2 record.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Parker returns to The Citadel|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2007/oct/04/red_parker_returns_citadel18071/|publisher=Ken Burger/ The Post and Courier|accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> The Tigers went 2-9 in 1975, and 3-6-2 in 1976, however, and Red Parker was cut loose by the Board of Trustees at the end of the Bicentennial season. Athletic Director Bill McClellan got the task of informing Parker he was gone when Parker refused to fire his assistants. Parker's 17-25-2 record earned him a .409 winning percentage.

===Charlie Pell era (1977–1978)===
] coached the Tigers for two seasons, winning the ACC Coach of the Year award twice and leading the Tigers to the 1978 ACC Championship en route to an 18-4-1 record. In both seasons, Clemson earned berths to the Gator Bowl. However, Pell became involved in NCAA rules and recruiting violations that came to light under the tenure of his successor, Danny Ford. Charlie Pell would leave after 1978 to become head coach at ], where his coaching career would end in 1984 following more NCAA rules violations.

===Danny Ford era (1978–1989)===
] was promoted from offensive line coach to head coach in 1978, after Charlie Pell left for the University of Florida. He won his first game, the 1978 Gator Bowl, with a 17&ndash;15 victory over ] and legendary coach ], who punched LB Charlie Bauman in the throat after making the game-clinching interception. In is fourth season, Ford guided Clemson to the summit of college football by winning the ], and recording the program's fifth undefeated season. The Tigers, who were unranked in the preseason, downed three top-10 teams (], ] and ]) during the course of the 12-0 season that concluded with a 22-15 victory over ] in the ]. Ford, named National Coach-of-the-Year in 1981, holds the record as the youngest coach (33 years old) to win a national championship on the gridiron.<ref>Sumner, Jim. . TheACC.com, 2006-10-10.</ref>

On November 21, 1982, the football program was placed on probation for a 2-year period to include the 1983 and 1984 seasons. This sanction was enforced on the program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions due to a lengthy history of recruiting violations meant to gain an athletic advantage. These recruiting violations took place from 1977 through the Tigers' ] and into 1982, under the administration of two head coaches, ] and Danny Ford. The ] imposed a third year of conference penalty.

Over 150 documented violations were found to have been committed under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, unethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, improper recruiting contact, and distribution of cash to players by members of the coaching staff.<ref name="NCAAinfraction">{{cite web|url=https://web1.ncaa.org/LSDBi/exec/miSearch?miSearchSubmit=publicReport&key=369&publicTerms=THIS%20PHRASE%20WILL%20NOT%20BE%20REPEATED|title=LSDBi|work=ncaa.org}}</ref>

As a result of these violations, Clemson was barred from participating in bowl games following the 1982 and 1983 seasons, and barred from appearing on live television in the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Also, the number of scholarships that the university could allocate to football players was restricted to 20 (from the normal limit of 30) for the 1983-84 and 1984-85 academic years. The Tigers, however, were allowed to keep their 1978 and 1981 ACC titles as well as the 1981 national title.

Charles Alan Wright, chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions said at the time, "Due to the large number and serious nature of the violations in this case, the committee believed that institutional sanctions related to appearances on television and in postseason football bowl games were appropriate. In addition, because the violations indicated a pattern of improper recruiting activities, the committee determined that a two-year limitation on financial aid to new recruits should be imposed to offset any recruiting advantage that was gained improperly by the university."<ref name="NCAAnews">{{cite journal
| date = 1982-11-29
| title = Clemson placed on probation
| journal = The NCAA News
| volume = 19
| issue = 28
| pages = 10
| publisher = National Collegiate Athletic Association
| pmid =
| doi =
| bibcode =
| oclc =
| id =
| url = http://web1.ncaa.org/web_video/NCAANewsArchive/1982/19821129.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-01-21
}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Partial quote of the </ref><ref name="NCAApr"></ref>

After the probation period, Clemson won three straight ] between 1986 and 1988, including a 35-10 victory over ] and a 13-6 defeat of the ] in the ]. In 1989, Clemson registered a 10-2 season and top-12 national ranking for the fourth straight season, and ended his career at Clemson with a 27–7 win over West Virginia (and All-America quarterback Major Harris) in the 1989 ].<ref name="2008_media_guide">{{cite web| url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08_mg_193-208.pdf|title= 2008 Clemson Football Media Guide |publisher=Clemson University |year=2008}}</ref>

Just five years after their probation ended, Clemson once again found their football program accused of multiple recruiting violations in January 1990.<ref name="NYTreveals">{{cite web
| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFDA173FF933A25752C0A966958260
| title = Clemson Reveals It Is Under Inquiry by N.C.A.A.
| accessdate = 2008-01-21
| author = Associated Press
| authorlink = Associated Press
| coauthors =
| date = 1990-01-10
| work = New York Times
| publisher = The New York Times Company
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| quote =
}}</ref> The NCAA accused a Clemson coach and booster of giving cash in amounts of $50 to $70 to players and having illegal contact with recruits over a period from 1984 to 1988. In June 1990, the Tigers were placed on probation again, but did not receive any post-season or television bans.<ref name="NYTprobation">{{cite web
| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0DB1030F932A35755C0A966958260
| title = Clemson on Probation
| accessdate = 2008-01-21
| author = Associated Press
| authorlink = The Associated Press
| coauthors =
| date = 1990-06-01
| work = New York Times
| publisher = The New York Times Company
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| quote =
}}</ref> This chain of events contributed, in part, to the forced resignation of popular head coach Danny Ford.<ref name="NYTford">{{cite web
| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D61F30F93AA25752C0A966958260
| title = Clemson Drops Ford With $1 Million Deal
| accessdate = 2008-01-21
| author = Associated Press
| authorlink = The Associated Press
| coauthors =
| date = 1990-01-19
| work = New York Times
| publisher = The New York Times Company
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| quote =
}}</ref>

After a few years away from coaching, Ford was hired by ] in 1992, where he would spend five seasons guiding the Razorbacks.

Ford compiled a 96-29-4 (.760) record at Clemson and remains the second most winningest coach in Clemson history. He coached the Tigers to five ACC championships.

===Ken Hatfield era (1990–1993)===
], former coach at ] and ], took over as head coach at Clemson in late 1989. He had a 32&ndash;13&ndash;1 record with the Tigers and led them to three bowl games.

Hatfield worked to clean up the program's image in the wake of the Ford-era sanctions.<ref>Hanley, Brian. . '']'', 1990-12-30.</ref> However, in the wake of Ford's success, Hatfield and many in the Clemson fanbase did not see eye-to-eye. A common saying among Tiger fans during this time was "Howard built it. Ford filled it. Hatfield killed it." This sentiment followed Clemson's first losing season (1992) since 1976.

Largely due to this discontent, school officials refused to grant him a one-year extension on his contract after the 1993 season, even though the Tigers had rebounded from 5&ndash;6 in 1992 to an 8&ndash;3 record that year and were invited to the Peach Bowl. Expressing "much disappointment" in what he saw as a lack of support by Clemson fans and several university officials, Hatfield resigned at the end of the regular season.<ref>. '']'', 1993-11-25.</ref> He was later hired at ].

The purple home jerseys used by Clemson in special games made their debut during the 1991 ACC championship season, with the Tigers wearing them in the regular season against NC State and in the Citrus Bowl vs. California.

===Tommy West era (1993–1998)===
] replaced Ken Hatfield at the end of the 1993 season, coaching the Tigers to a 14-13 victory in the 1993 Peach Bowl against ]. West had a 31&ndash;28 record during his five seasons at Clemson and led the Tigers to three bowl games but no ACC championships. West was fired after a dismal 1998 campaign which saw Clemson go 3-8 and finish last in the ACC. West went on to be the head coach at ].

===Tommy Bowden era (1999–2008)===
]
After Tommy West's dismissal following the 1998 season, Clemson hired ], son of ] and coach at ]. Bowden led the Tigers to a 6&ndash;6 record and a Peach Bowl bid in 1999, with the team that navigated its way through a schedule that included ] champions and undefeated ], ] champion and ] runner-up ] (who went undefeated during the regular season), and eventual National Champion ] (who finished the year undefeated). The 1999 meeting between the Tigers and Seminoles was dubbed the "]" and was the first time that a father and son coached against each other in Division I football. FSU won the game 17&ndash;<ref>{{cite web|title=HISTORY OF BOWDEN BOWL|url=http://community-2.webtv.net/SeminoleFootball2/HISTORYOFBOWDENBOWL/|publisher=MSN TV|accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> 14 in front of the largest crowd in the history of Death Valley.

During Bowden's tenure, the Tigers were bowl eligible every season but didn't win any ACC championships (the 2004 team turned down a bowl invitation as punishment for a massive ] during a game against the ]). Despite this, Bowden has been criticized for his teams underachieving. The 2000 Tigers started 8–0 and rose as high as #5 in the polls before losing three of their last four. The same thing happened during the 2006 season following a 7–1 start and with the team on the verge of winning the ACC Atlantic Division. The Tigers have also shown great resolve at points during Bowden's tenure. The 2003 team won four games at the end of the season to finish 9–4, which included victories over #3 Florida State and #7 ] in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. The 2004 season saw the Tigers start 1–4 only to win five of their last six games (which included an overtime upset of #10 ]), while the 2005 team overcame a 2–3 start to finish the season 9–4.

Tommy Bowden agreed to resign for $3.5 million on October 13, 2008, after leading the team to a disappointing 3–3 record (1–2 ACC) at the midpoint of a season in which the Tigers were an almost unanimous preseason pick to win their first ACC title under Bowden and were ranked #9 in the preseason polls. Assistant coach ] was named interim head coach.<ref name=ESPN>Mark Schlabach, , ESPN.com, October 13, 2008, Accessed October 13, 2008.</ref>

===Dabo Swinney era (2008–present)===
]
]
Following the departure of Tommy Bowden, wide receivers coach ] was dubbed interim head coach and led the Tigers to a 4–2 record, finishing the ] at 7&ndash;6. On December 1, 2008, Swinney signed a five-year contract as Clemson's permanent head coach.<ref>Associated Press, , ESPN.com, December 1, 2008, Accessed December 1, 2008.</ref>

On November 21, 2009, Swinney and the Tigers qualified for their first ACC title game berth, only to lose to the ] 39–34. They were awarded a trip to the ], and defeated the ] 21–13, avenging their upset loss in the ].

On December 31, 2010 Clemson was defeated by the ], 31&ndash;26, in the ] in ]. In January 2011, Swinney hired new offensive coordinator ], In December 2011, Morris became tied with Gus Malzahn as the highest paid assistant in college football after Clemson gave Morris a six-year contract worth $1.3 million annually. Dabo also added on running backs coach Tony Elliott, and defensive line coach Marion Hobby.

On September 17, 2011, Clemson beat the defending national champions, the #21-ranked Auburn Tigers, and ended Auburn's 17-game winning streak, the longest winning streak in the nation. On October 1, 2011, Clemson became the first ACC team to beat three nationally ranked opponents in a row: #21-ranked Auburn, #11-ranked Florida State, and #11-ranked Virginia Tech. On November 12, 2011, Clemson defeated Wake Forest, winning the ] title. On November 26, 2011, Clemson lost to South Carolina for the third straight year, the first time Clemson had lost three straight to its instate rival since the seasons from 1968-1970. On December 3, the Tigers won their first ACC Championship since 1991, defeating ] 38-10 in the ]. #15 Clemson would go on to lose to the #23 West Virginia Mountaineers in the ] 70-33, giving up an all-time record number of points scored in a quarter (35), half (49) and game (70) in the 109-year history of bowl games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=320040228|title=West Virginia Mountaineers vs Clemson Tigers - Recap|work=ESPN.com}}</ref>

On Dec. 31, 2012, Clemson achieved its first 11-win season since the national championship year with a last-second upset win over the #8 ] in the ]. Clemson trailed 24-13 in the fourth quarter, but rallied back with a game winning drive that saw a 4th and 16 conversion deep in their own territory that would lead to Chandler Catanzaro's 37-yard field goal as time expired to give Clemson a 25-24 win.

The 2013 season was historic for the Clemson football program. The Tigers began the season with a 38-35 home victory over rival and fifth-ranked ] and finished 11-2 in 2013 and secured the school's first ever BCS bowl win with a 40-35 victory over #7 ] in the ]. Quarterback ] and wide receiver ] set Orange Bowl yardage records. Boyd compiled 505 total yards and threw five touchdowns. It was the Tigers fourth win over a top 10 opponent under Swinney.<ref>]</ref>

Clemson finished 10-3 in 2014, highlighted by a 35-17 win over arch-rival ] and a 40-6 win over ] in the Russell Athletic Bowl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/228/clemson-tigers|title=Clemson Football - Tigers News, Scores, Videos - College Football - ESPN|work=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Tigers took on ACC rival Florida State in week 3 of their season only to suffer a heartbreaking loss in overtime as #22 Clemson lost to #1 FSU 17-23. The Tigers then claimed a six-game winning streak in the middle of their season but lost to Georgia Tech as star Freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson went out with a knee injury early in the 1st quarter. The Tigers had the nation's #1 ranked defense under defensive coordinator Brent Venables<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=209814732|title=Venables Named Defensive Coordinator-of-the-Year|work=ClemsonTigers.com}}</ref> and the emergence of freshman quarterback ] propelled the Tigers to another 10-win season for the 4th time in Dabo Swinney's six years as head coach.

==Coaches==

===Current coaching staff===
{| class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"
|+Clemson Tigers football current coaching staff<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Clemson Football Coaches|url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/footbl-coaches.html|publisher=Clemson University Athletics|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref>
|- |-
| ] || rowspan="3"|] || rowspan="4"|] || 6–0 || 4–0
! Name !! Position !! Alma Mater
|- |-
| ] || 6–1 || 6–0
| ] || Head Coach|| ]
|- |-
| ]† || 4–1–1 || 2–0–1
| ] ||Co-Offensive Coordinator|| ]
|- |-
| ]† || ] || 4–0–3 || 4–0
| ] || Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach || ]
|- |-
| ] || Defensive Backs Coach || ] | ] || rowspan="8"|] || rowspan="2"|Southern Conference || 6–2–1 || 4–0
|- |-
| ] || 11–0 || 5–0
| Dan Brooks || Defensive Line Coach || ]
|- |-
| ] || rowspan="22"|] || 7–2–2 || 4–0–1
| ] ||Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach || ]
|- |-
| ] || 8–3 || 5–1
| ] || Defensive Ends Coach || ]
|- |-
| ] || 9–2 || 6–1
| ] || Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles Coach || ]
|- |-
| ]† || 5–5 || 5–2
| ] || Offensive Line Coach || ]
|- |-
| ] || 6–4 || 6–1
| Brandon Streeter || Quarterbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator || ]
|}

===Career coaching records===
{{main|List of Clemson Tigers head football coaches}}
<!-- Records through end of 2013 season -->
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="text-align:center"
|- |-
| ] || 6–4 || 6–0
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Tenure
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Coach
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Years
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Record
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Pct.
|- |-
| 1896-1899 || ] || 2 || 6-3 || .667 | ] || ] || 11–1 || 6–0
|- |-
| ] || rowspan="5"|] || 12–0 || 6–0
| 1897 || ] || 1 || 2-2 || .500
|- |-
| 1898 || ] || 1 || 3-1 || .750 | ] || 9–1–1 || 6–0
|- |-
| ] || 8–2–2 || 5–1–1
| 1900-1903 || ] || 4 || 19-3-2 || .833
|- |-
| ] || 10–2 || 6–1
| 1904 || ] || 1 || 3-3-1 || .500
|- |-
| 1905 || ] || 1 || 3-2-1 || .583 | ] || 10–2 || 6–1
|- |-
| ] || ] || 9–2–1 || 6–0–1
| 1906–1915 || ] || 5 || 22-14-6 || .595
|- |-
| ] || rowspan="9"|] || 10–4 || 6–2
| 1907 || ] || 1 || 4-4-0 || .500
|- |-
| 1908 || ] || 1 || 1-6-0 || .143 | ] || 14–1 || 8–0
|- |-
| 1910-1912 || ] || 3 || 11-12-1 || .479 | ] || 14–1 || 7-1
|- |-
| 1916 || ] || 1 || 3-6 || .333 | ] || 12–2 || 7–1
|- |-
| ] || 15–0 || 8–0
| 1917- 1920 || ] || 4 || 21-12-3 || .625
|- |-
| ] || 14–1 || 8–0
| 1921 - 1922 || ] || 2 || 6-10-2 || .389
|- |-
| ] || 10–2 || 8–1
| 1923 - 1926 || ] || 4 || 10-22-1 || .318
|- |-
| 1927 - 1930 || ] || 4 || 29-11-1 || .720 | ] || 11–3 || 8–0
|- |-
| 1931 -1939 || ] || 9 || 43-35-7 || .547 | ] || 10–3 || 7–1
|}
† Co-champions

===Division championships===
In 2005, the ] divided into two divisions of six teams each and began holding an ] at the conclusion of the regular football season to determine the conference champion. Clemson won its first outright ACC Atlantic Division championship in 2009. In 2012 and 2016, Clemson was co-champion of the Atlantic Division. On August 18, 2011, Georgia Tech vacated their ] victory over Clemson due to NCAA violations. The game is considered by the NCAA and ACC to have no winner.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6769894/ncaa-places-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-four-years-probation |title=NCAA places Georgia Tech on probation |date=July 18, 2011 |publisher=] |access-date=September 5, 2011 |quote=The NCAA vacated the final three games of the football team's 2009 season – a loss to rival Georgia, the Atlantic Coast Conference championship win over Clemson and the Orange Bowl loss to Iowa – for using an ineligible player. It was the Yellow Jackets' first season under coach Paul Johnson. |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902114750/http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6769894/ncaa-places-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-four-years-probation |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year|Coach|Division championship|Opponent|CG result}}
|- |-
| ] || rowspan="9"|] || rowspan="9"|ACC Atlantic || ] || L 34–39 (vacated)
| 1940 - 1969 || ] || 30 || 165-118-12 || .580
|- |-
| ] || ] || '''W''' 38–10
| 1970 - 1972 || ] || 3 || 12-21 || .364
|- |-
| ] || ] || '''W''' 45–37
| 1973 - 1976 || ] || 4 || 17-25-2 || .409
|- |-
| ] || ] || '''W''' 42–35
| 1977 - 1978 || ] || 2 || 18-4-1 || .804
|- |-
| ] || ] || '''W''' 38–3
| 1978 - 1989 || ] || 12 || 96-29-4 || .760
|- |-
| ] || ] || '''W''' 42–10
| 1990 - 1993 || ] || 4 || 32-13-1 || .707
|- |-
| 1993 - 1998 || ] || 6 || 31-28 || .526 | ] || ] || '''W''' 62–17
|- |-
| ] || ] || '''W''' 39–10
| 1999 - 2008 || ] || 10 || 72-45 || .615
|-
| 2008 - current || ] || 7 || 66-26 || .714
|- class="sortbottom"
! style="background:#522D80; color:#FFFFFF;"| Totals
! style="background:#522D80; color:#FFFFFF;"| 25 coaches
! style="background:#522D80; color:#FFFFFF;"| 118 seasons
! style="background:#522D80; color:#FFFFFF;"| 694-455-45
! style="background:#522D80; color:#FFFFFF;"| {{Winning percentage|694|455|45}}
|} |}


==Playoffs==
==Clemson traditions==
Clemson was selected as the one seed in the second ] and defeated the fourth seed ] on December 31, 2015, in the ]. They lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the championship game on January 11, 2016. Clemson was selected to the third ] as the second seed and defeated the third seed ] on December 31, 2016, in the ]. The Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship games in both 2017 and 2019. Clemson has a 6–4 record in playoff games through the 2019 season.


{| class="wikitable"
*'''Howard's Rock''' In the early 1960s, the rock was given to then head coach Frank Howard by a friend, Samuel Columbus Jones (Clemson Class of 1919).<ref>Clemson Alumni Association, "Clemson Alumni: Today 2008", Harris Connect, Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia, 2007, no ISBN , page 1904.</ref> It was presented to Howard by Jones, saying "Here's a rock from Death Valley, California, to Death Valley, South Carolina."<ref name="Howard">Howard, Frank, with Bradley, Bob, and Parker, Virgil, "Howard", Howard, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1990, ISBN 0-934904-22-7, page 132.</ref> Howard didn't think anything else about the rock and it was used as a door stop in his office for several years. In September 1966, while cleaning out his office, Howard noticed the rock and told IPTAY executive director Gene Willimon, "Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch...do something with it, but get it out of my office."<ref name="Howard"/> Willimon had the rock placed on a pedestal at the top of the east endzone hill that the team ran down to enter the field for games.<ref name="Bradley">Bradley, Bob, "Death Valley Days", Longstreet Press, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, 1991, Library of Congress card number 91-061931, ISBN 1-56352-006-0, page 17.</ref> On September 24, 1966, the first time Clemson players ran by the rock, they beat conference rival Virginia, 40-35.<ref>Clemson Athletic Department, "2001 Clemson Football", Keys Printing, Greenville, South Carolina, 2001, no ISBN , page 340.</ref> Howard, seizing on the motivational potential of "The Rock", told his players, "Give me 110% or keep your filthy hands off of my rock."<ref name="Bradley"/> The team started rubbing the Rock for the first game of 1967, which was a 23-6 waxing of ACC foe Wake Forest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetigernet.com/football/history/hill.jsp|title=TigerNet -- Football -- Traditions -- Running Down the Hill|work=thetigernet.com}}</ref>

:As a result, it is now a tradition for the Clemson Army ] to protect the Rock for the 24 hours prior to the Clemson-South Carolina game when held in Death Valley. ROTC cadets keep a steady ] around the rock prior to the game, which can be heard across the campus. Part of the tradition comes after unknown parties vandalized the Rock prior to the 1992 South Carolina-Clemson game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19921121&id=yTEfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Dc8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3200,1466481|title=Herald-Journal - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com}}</ref> On June 2, 2013, Howard's Rock was again vandalized when the case containing it was broken and a portion of the rock was removed by an apparent fan of the Tigers, who was eventually arrested following a police investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9433459/clemson-arrests-charges-man-connection-howard-rock-vandalism|title=Clemson arrests, charges man in connection to Howard's Rock vandalism|work=ESPN.com}}</ref>

*'''Running Down the Hill''' Probably the most highly publicized tradition of the Clemson Tigers football team is the entrance, which ] referred to as "The Most Exciting 25 seconds in College Football."<ref name="Howard"/> Running down “The Hill” originally started out of practicality. Before the west stands were built, the football team dressed across the street at Fike Field House and ran from there to the gate and down the hill onto the field. Now, after exiting the stadium on the west side, the players load into 2 buses which, escorted by police officers, make their way around the stadium to the east side where The Hill is located. This scene is shown on the JumboTron inside the stadium. When the buses arrive at the east side the players get out and gather at the top of the hill and stand around Howard's Rock, once most of the players are out of the buses and ready to go a cannon sounds, the band begins to play Tiger Rag and the players make their way down the hill. The spelling out of C-L-E-M-S-O-N during this Tiger Rag is one of, if not the, loudest times it will be spelled out during the game.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

*'''Ring of Honor''' Created in 1994, the Ring of Honor is the highest award given to former coaches, players, and other individuals who made a direct impact on the football program.<ref></ref>

*'''The Graveyard''' The Graveyard is a mock cemetery near the football practice fields that features tombstones commemorating Clemson's victories over ranked opponents on the road.<ref></ref>

*'''First Friday Parade''' The Clemson football season kicks off each year with the annual First Friday Parade. The once a year event takes place on the Friday afternoon prior to the first home football game. Floats from various fraternities and sororities and other campus organizations are represented in the parade that rolls down main street in Clemson. The parade culminates at the Amphitheater in the middle of campus where the first Pep Rally of the year takes place. The Grand Marshal of the Parade is featured at the Pep Rally. Recent Grand Marshals have ranged from current PGA professional Dillard Pruitt, to College Football Hall of Fame legends Jess Neely and Frank Howard, to noted television announcers Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian.

*'''Tailgating''' On October 15, 2012, Southern Living named Clemson the South's best tailgate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clemson Wins The South’s Best Tailgate|url=http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/10/15/souths-best-tailgate-clemson/|publisher=southernliving.com|accessdate=18 November 2012|date=October 15, 2012}}</ref>

==Rivalries==

===South Carolina===
{{Main|Clemson–South Carolina rivalry}}
The ] is the largest annual sporting event in terms of ticket sales in the state of South Carolina. Clemson holds a 66–42–4 lead in the series which dates back to 1896. Historically, the final score in the game, (on average), has been decided by less than a touchdown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/opp-opp.pl?start=1869&end=2012&team1=South+Carolina&team2=Clemson|title=South Carolina vs Clemson 1869-2012|work=stassen.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/south_carolina/opponents_records.php?teamid=721|title=South Carolina Game by Game against Opponents|work=cfbdatawarehouse.com}}</ref> From 1896 to 1959, the Clemson-South Carolina game was played, on the fairgrounds, in Columbia, SC and was referred-to as "Big Thursday". In 1960 an alternating-site format was implemented utilizing both teams' home stadiums. The annual game has since been designated "The Palmetto Bowl." The last seven contests between the programs have been nationally televised (3 on ESPN, 4 on ESPN2).

===Georgia Tech===
{{Main|Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry}}

Clemson's rivalry with Georgia Tech dates to 1898 with the first game being played in ]. The game was played in Atlanta for 44 of the first 47 match-ups, until Georgia Tech joined the ACC. When Georgia Tech joined the ACC in 1978, the series went to a more traditional home-and-home setup beginning with the 1983 game. When the ACC expanded to 12 teams and split into two divisions in 2005, Clemson and Georgia Tech were placed in opposite divisions but were designated permanent cross-divisional rivals so that the series may continue uninterrupted. The two schools are 127 miles apart and connected to each other by ]. This distance is slightly closer than that between Clemson and traditional rival South Carolina (137 miles). Georgia Tech leads the series 51-28-2. However, Clemson leads the series 16-15 since Georgia Tech joined the ACC in 1983.

===NC State===
{{Main|Textile Bowl}}
The yearly conference and divisional match-up with ] is known as the ] for the schools' similar missions in research and development for the textile industry in the Carolinas. The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1899, and Clemson currently holds a 52-28-1 series advantage, including having won 8 of the last 9 games played. The series has been played annually since 1971.

===Boston College===
{{Main|O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy}}
The O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy was created in 2008 by the Boston College Gridiron Club in order to honor the tradition at both schools and to honor the legacy of ] and ], who played during the leather helmet era. The club plans to make this an annual presentation. Clemson first met Boston College on the football field in the 1940 ], the first ever bowl game for the Tigers and Eagles. Over the next 43 years, the teams met a total of 13 times. In 2005, Boston College joined the ACC and the Atlantic Division. Since then, the game has been played on an annual basis with Clemson winning in 5 of the last 6 meetings. As of 2014 the Tigers lead the series 14-9-2.

===Florida State===
{{Main|Clemson–Florida State football rivalry}}
Between 1999 and 2007 the ACC Atlantic Division matchup between Clemson and Florida State was referred to as the "Bowden Bowl" to reflect the father-son head coach matchup between ] (Father, FSU) and ] (Son, Clemson). Their first meeting, in 1999, was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby Bowden won the first four matchups extending FSU's winning streak over Clemson to 11 dating back to 1992. Since 2003, Clemson is 6-6, including a 26-10 win in Clemson over then-#3 FSU, the highest ranking opponent to ever be defeated by the Tigers. Also during this time the Tigers recorded a 27-20 win in ] in 2006 which broke a 17-year losing streak in ]. 2007 was the last Bowden Bowl game as Tommy resigned as head coach in October 2008. As of 2014, Florida State leads the overall series 20-8.

===Georgia===
{{Main|Clemson-Georgia football rivalry}}

The Bulldogs and the Tigers have played each other 63 times beginning in 1897, with the 64th meeting scheduled to be played in 2014. Clemson’s only regular-season losses of the 1978, 1982, and 1991 campaigns all came at the hands of Georgia "between the hedges," whereas Georgia’s only regular-season setback during the three years of the ] era came in Death Valley during ] 1981 national championship run.

During the two programs’ simultaneous glory days of the early 1980s, no rivalry in all of college football was more important at the national level. The Bulldogs and Tigers played each other every season from 1973 to 1987, with Scott Woerner’s dramatic returns in 1980 and the nine turnovers forced by the Tigers in 1981 effectively settling the eventual national champion. No rivalry of that period was more competitive, as evidenced by the critical eleventh-hour field goals kicked by Kevin Butler in 1984 and by David Treadwell more than once later in the decade. Despite blowouts in 1990 by the Tigers and in 1994 and 2003 by the Bulldogs, the series typically has remained very competitive with evenly-matched games.

Georgia currently maintains a 41-18-4 lead in the series, with 34 games having been played at Georgia, 21 games having been played at Clemson, and 8 games having been played at a neutral site (either Augusta, Georgia or Anderson, South Carolina). Georgia had won 5 games in a row, dating back to 1991, until Clemson won a Top 10 match-up to open the 2013 season in Death Valley. On August 31, 2013, #8 Clemson hosted #5 Georgia as the season opener for both teams featuring senior starting quarterbacks, star-studded offenses and questions to be answered on both team's defenses. This Top 10 match-up was chosen as the ESPN game of the week, and Clemson hosted ESPN's College Gameday for just the second time. Clemson won the game by the score of 38 to 35.

Their last matchup was in 2014 in Athens where the Bulldogs defeated Clemson 45-21.

===Auburn===
These old rivals first played in 1899, but until 2010, had not faced each other in the regular season since 1971. Auburn leads the overall series 34-13-2 and had won 14 games in a row, dating back to 1952, before Clemson snapped the streak in 2011, by beating #21 ranked Auburn 38-24 in Death Valley, in front of a crowd of exactly 82,000. Along with snapping one streak, Clemson also snapped Auburn's seventeen-game winning streak coming off of the 2009-2011 seasons. The ] hosted the Auburn-Clemson rivalry in the 2012 ]. Clemson defeated Auburn 26-19 riding on a 231-yard performance by ]. This game was notable due to ] absence, having been suspended the first two games due to a drug-related arrest in May 2012. The series is scheduled to be revived following a three-year hiatus in 2016 at Auburn and 2017 at Clemson.

==All-time record vs. current ACC teams==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|- |-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year|Seed|Opponent|Round|Result|Notes}}
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Opponent
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Won
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Lost
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Tied
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Percentage
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Streak
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | First Meeting
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Last Meeting
|- |-
| rowspan=2|] || rowspan=2|1 || No. 4 ] || Semi-finals – ] || '''W''' 37–17 || ]
| ] || 13 || 9 || 2 || {{winpct|13|9|2}} || Won 4 || ] || 2014
|- |-
| No. 2 ] || Final – ] || L 40–45 || ]
| ] || 36 || 16 || 1 || {{winpct|36|16|1}} || Won 4 || ] || 2012
|- |-
| rowspan=2|] || rowspan=2|2 || No. 3 ] || Semi-finals – ] || '''W''' 31–0 || ]
| ] || 8 || 20 || 0 || {{winpct|8|19}} || Lost 3 || ] || 2014
|- |-
| No. 1 ] || Final – ] || '''W''' 35–31 || ]
| ] || 28 || 51 || 2 || {{winpct|28|51|2}} || Won 1 ||] || 2015
|- |-
| ] |||1 || No. 4 ] || Semi-finals – ] || L 6–24 || ]
| ] || 2 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0|0}} || Won 2 || ] || 2015
|- |-
| rowspan=2|] || rowspan=2|2 || No. 3 ] || Semi-finals – ] || '''W''' 30–3 || ]
| ] || 3 || 6 || 0 || {{winpct|3|6}} || Lost 1 || ] || 2010
|- |-
| No. 1 ] || Final – ] || '''W''' 44–16 || ]
| ] || 36 || 19 || 1 || {{winpct|36|19|1}} || Won 2 || ] || 2014
|- |-
| rowspan=2|] || rowspan=2|3 || No. 2 ] || Semi-finals – ] || '''W''' 29–23 || ]
| ] || 54 || 27 || 1 || {{winpct|54|27|1}} || Won 3 || ] || 2014
|- |-
| No. 1 ] || Final – ] || L 25–42 || ]
| ] || 0 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|0|1|0}} || Lost 1 || ] || 1977
|- |-
| ] || 2 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|2|1|0}} || Won 2 || ] || 2014 | ] |||2 || No. 3 ] || Semi-finals – ] || L 28–49 || ]
|-
| ] || 38 || 8 || 1 || {{winpct|38|8|1}} || Won 3 || ] || 2013
|-
| ] || 20 || 12 || 1 || {{winpct|20|12|1}} || Won 3 || ] || 2012
|-
| ] || 62 || 17 || 1 || {{winpct|62|17|1}} || Won 6 || ] || 2014
|- class="unsortable" style="background:#522D80; color:white; font-weight:bold;"
|Totals
|328
|210
|12
|{{winpct|328|210|12}}
|
|
|
|} |}


==Bowl games== ==National polls==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
Clemson has ended their football season ranked 38 times in either the AP or Coaches Poll.<ref name="data.clemsontigers.com">{{Cite web |title=2020 Tiger Football media guide |url=https://data.clemsontigers.com/pdf/football/2020-21/MediaGuide.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202202020/https://data.clemsontigers.com/pdf/football/2020-21/MediaGuide.pdf |archive-date=2021-02-02}}</ref>
Clemson had 12 consecutive 10-win seasons from 2011 to 2022. Before the streak came to an end in 2023, it was the 2nd longest active streak behind Alabama with 16.<ref name="data.clemsontigers.com"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|- |-
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Season
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year|Record|AP Poll†|Coaches‡|Harris}}
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Coach
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Bowl
|-
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Game Date
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | W/L
| 1939 || 9–1–0 || 12 || – || –
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Opponent
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | PF
|-
! style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | PA
| 1948 || 11–0–0 || 11 || – || –
|-
| 1950 || 9–0–1 || 10 || 12 || –
|-
| 1951 || 7–3–0 || 20 || – || –
|-
| 1956 || 7–2–2 || 19 || – || –
|-
| 1957 || 7–3–0 || – || 18 || –
|-
| 1958 || 8–3–0 || 12 || 13 || –
|-
| 1959 || 9–2–0 || 11 || 11 || –
|-
| 1977 || 8–3–1 || 19 || – || –
|-
| 1978 || 11–1–0 || 6 || 7 || –
|-
| 1981 || 12–0–0 || 1 || 1 || –
|-
| 1982 || 9–1–1 || 8 || – || –
|-
| 1983 || 9–1–1 || 11 || – || –
|-
| 1986 || 8–2–2 || 17 || 19 || –
|-
| 1987 || 10–2–0 || 12 || 10 || –
|-
| 1988 || 10–2–0 || 9 || 8 || –
|-
| 1989 || 10–2–0 || 12 || 11 || –
|-
| 1990 || 10–2–0 || 9 || 9 || –
|-
| 1991 || 9–2–1 || 18 || 17 || –
|-
| 1993 || 9–3–0 || 23 || 22 || –
|-
| 2000 || 9–3 || 16 || 14 || –
|-
| 2003 || 9–4 || 22 || 22 || –
|-
| 2005 || 8–4 || 21 || 21 || 23
|-
| 2007 || 9–4 || 21 || 22 || 16
|-
| 2009 || 9–5 || 24 || – || –
|-
| 2011 || 10–4 || 22 || 22 || 14
|-
| 2012 || 11–2 || 11 || 9 || 13
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 6 || 3
| 2013 || 11–2 || 8 || 7 || 11
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1949 || '''W''' || ] || 24 || 23
| 2014 || 10–3 || 15 || 15 || –
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1951 || '''W''' || ] || 15 || 14
| 2015 || 14–1 || 2 || 2 ||
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1952 || '''L''' || ] || 0 || 14
| 2016 || 14–1 || 1 || 1 ||
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1957 || '''L''' || ] || 21 || 27
| 2017 || 12–2 || 4 || 4 ||
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 0 || 7
| 2018 || 15–0 || 1 || 1 ||
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || December 19, 1959 || '''W''' || ] || 23 || 7
| 2019 || 14–1 || 2 || 2 ||

|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || December 30, 1977 || '''L''' || ] || 3 || 34
| 2020 || 10–2 || 3 || 3 ||
|- |-

|]|| ] || ] || December 29, 1978 || '''W''' || ] || 17 || 15
| 2021 || 10–3 || 14 || 16 ||

|- |-

|]|| ] || ] || December 31, 1979 || '''L''' || ] || 18 || 24
| 2022 || 11–3 || 12 || 13 ||

|- |-

|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 22 || 15
| 2023 || 9–4 || 20 || 20 ||

|}
† ] began selecting the nation's Top 20 teams in 1936. Only the Top 10 teams were recognized from 1962 to 1967. The AP Poll expanded back to the Top 20 teams in 1968. In 1989, it began recognizing the Top 25 teams.
‡ ] began selecting its Top 20 teams on a weekly basis in 1950 before expanding to the nation's Top 25 teams in 1990.

==Bowl games==
{{Main|List of Clemson Tigers bowl games}}
Clemson holds a 27–23 record in bowl games through the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/clemson/|title=Clemson Tigers Bowls|website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310015513/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/clemson/|url-status=live}}</ref> This is a list of Clemson's 16 most recent bowl games.

{| class="wikitable"
|- |-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Season|Coach|Bowl|Date|Opponent|Result}}
|]|| ] || ] || December 21, 1985 || '''L''' || ] || 13 || 20
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || December 27, 1986 || '''W''' || ] || 27 || 21 |]|| ] || ] || December 31, 2010 || ] || L 26–31
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1988 || '''W''' || ] || 35 || 10 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] ||January 4, 2012 || ] || L 33–70
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 2, 1989 || '''W''' || ] || 13 || 6 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || December 31, 2012 || ] || '''W''' 25–24
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || December 30, 1989 || '''W''' || ] || 27 || 7 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 3, 2014 || ] || '''W''' 40–35
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1991 || '''W''' || ] || 30 || 0 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || December 29, 2014 || ] || '''W''' 40–6
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1992 || '''L''' || ] || 13 || 37 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || December 31, 2015 || ] || '''W''' 37–17
|-
|]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 11, 2016 || ] || L 40–45
|-
|]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || December 31, 2016 || ] || '''W''' 31–0
|-
|]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 9, 2017 || ] || '''W''' 35–31
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || ] ||'''W''' || ] || 14 || 13 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 1, 2018 || ] || L 6–24
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 1, 1996 || '''L''' || ] || 0 || 41 |] || Dabo Swinney || ] || December 29, 2018 || ] || '''W''' 30–3
|-
|]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 7, 2019 || ] || '''W''' 44–16
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || December 28, 1996 || '''L''' || ] || 7 || 10 |] || Dabo Swinney || ] || December 28, 2019 || ] || '''W''' 29–23
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || January 2, 1998 || '''L''' || ] || 17 || 21 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 13, 2020 || ] || L 25–42
|- |-
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 7 || 17 |]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || January 1, 2021 || ] ||L 28–49
|-
|]|| Dabo Swinney || ] || December 29, 2021 || ] || '''W''' 20–13
|- |-
|]
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 20 || 41
|Dabo Swinney
|]
|December 30, 2022
|]
|L 14–31
|- |-
|]
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 49 || 24
|Dabo Swinney
|]
|December 29, 2023
|]
|'''W''' 38–35
|}

==Head coaches==
{{main|List of Clemson Tigers head football coaches}}

{| class="wikitable"
|- |-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Tenure|Coach|Years|Record|Pct.}}
|] || ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 15 || 55
|- |-
| 1896–1899 || ] || 2 || 6–3 || {{winpct|6|3|0}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 27 || 14
|- |-
| 1897 || ] || 1 || 2–2 || {{winpct|2|2|0}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 19 || 10
|- |-
| 1898 || ] || 1 || 3–1 || {{winpct|3|1|0}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 20 || 28
|- |-
| 1900–1903 || ] || 4 || 19–3–2 || {{winpct|19|3|2}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 20 || 23
|- |-
| 1904 || ] || 1 || 3–3–1 || {{winpct|3|3|1}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 21 || 26
|- |-
| 1905 || ] || 1 || 3–2–1 || {{winpct|3|2|1}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 21|| 13
|- |-
| 1906–1915 || ] || 5 || 22–14–6 || {{winpct|22|14|6}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 26|| 31
|- |-
| 1907 || ] || 1 || 4–4–0 || {{winpct|4|4|0}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''L''' || ] || 33 || 70
|- |-
| 1908 || ] || 1 || 1–6–0 || {{winpct|1|6|0}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 25 || 24
|- |-
| 1910–1912 || ] || 3 || 11–12–1 || {{winpct|11|12|1}}
|]|| ] || ] || ] || '''W''' || ] || 40 || 35
|- |-
| 1916 || ] || 1 || 3–6 || {{winpct|3|6|0}}
|]|| ] || ] || December 29, 2014 || '''W''' || ] || 40 || 6
|- class="unsortable" style="background:#522D80; color:white; font-weight:bold;"
|
| Total
|
| 37 Bowl Games
| 19-18
|
| 728
| 786
|}

==Championships==
===National championship===
Clemson finished their undefeated 1981 season with a 22-15 victory over the #4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl, and were named the national champions by all major selectors.<ref>{{cite web|last=Papanek|first=John|title=Year of the Tigers|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125133/1/index.htm|publisher=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=6 September 2011|date=January 11, 1982}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Year
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Coach
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Selector
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Record
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Bowl
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Opponent
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | PF
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | PA
|- |-
| 1917–1920 || ] || 4 || 21–12–3 || {{winpct|21|12|3}}
| ] || ] || AP, UPI/Coaches' Poll<sup>†</sup> || 12-0 || ] || Nebraska || 22 || 15
|- |-
| 1921–1922 || ] || 2 || 6–10–2 || {{winpct|6|10|2}}
| colspan=4 style="background:#522D80;color:white;"|'''National championships:'''
| colspan=4 style="background:#522D80;color:white;"|'''1'''
|}
† Other consensus selectors included Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Helms, Litkenhous, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Poling, Sagarin, and Sporting News<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions|url=http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/NCAA/Sports%20and%20Championship/General%20Information/ia_football_past_champs.html|publisher=NCAA|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref>

===Conference championships===
Clemson won the Southern Inercollegiate Athletic Association in 1900 and 1902 along with the Southern Conference title in 1940 and 1948.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clemson Composite Championship Listing|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/c/clemson/championships.php|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref> Their 14 ] titles (13 outright, 1 tied) is tied with Florida State for the most ACC football championships.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Year
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Coach
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Conference
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Overall Record
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Conference Record
|- |-
| 1923–1926 || ] || 4 || 10–22–1 || {{winpct|10|22|1}}
| ]{{dagger}} || ] || ] || 6&ndash;0 || 4&ndash;0
|- |-
| 1927–1930 || ] || 4 || 29–11–1 || {{winpct|29|11|1}}
| ]{{dagger}} || John Heisman || Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association || 6&ndash;1 || 6&ndash;0
|- |-
| 1931–1939 || ] || 9 || 43–35–7 || {{winpct|43|35|7}}
| ] || ] || Southern Conference || 6&ndash;2&ndash;1 || 4&ndash;0
|- |-
| ] || Frank Howard || Southern Conference|| 11&ndash;0 || 5&ndash;0 | 1940–1969 || ] || 30 || 165–118–12 || {{winpct|165|118|12}}
|- |-
| 1970–1972 || ] || 3 || 12–21 || {{winpct|12|21|0}}
| ] || Frank Howard || ] || 7&ndash;2&ndash;2 || 4&ndash;0&ndash;1
|- |-
| 1973–1976 || ] || 4 || 17–25–2 || {{winpct|17|25|2}}
| ] || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 8&ndash;3 || 5&ndash;1
|- |-
| 1977–1978 || ] || 2 || 18–4–1 || {{winpct|18|4|1}}
| ] || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9&ndash;2 || 6&ndash;1
|- |-
| 1978–1989 || ] || 12 || 96–29–4 || {{winpct|96|29|4}}
| ]{{double-dagger}} || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 5&ndash;5 || 5&ndash;2
|- |-
| 1990–1993 || ] || 4 || 32–13–1 || {{winpct|32|13|1}}
| ] || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 6&ndash;4 || 6&ndash;1
|- |-
| ] || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 6&ndash;4 || 6&ndash;0 | 1993–1998 || ] || 6 || 31–28 || {{winpct|31|28|0}}
|- |-
| 1999–2008 || ] || 10 || 72–45 || {{winpct|72|45|0}}
| ] || ] || Atlantic Coast Conference || 11&ndash;1 || 6&ndash;0
|- |-
| 2008–current || ] || 14 || 170–44 || {{winpct|170|43|0}}<!-- Thru August 7, 2024 -->
| ] || ] || Atlantic Coast Conference || 12&ndash;0 || 6&ndash;0
|- |}

| ] || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9&ndash;1&ndash;1 || 6&ndash;0
===Coaching staff===
|-
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
| ] || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 8&ndash;2&ndash;2 || 5&ndash;1&ndash;1
|-
| ] || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10&ndash;2 || 6&ndash;1
|- |-
| colspan=4 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=2|}}; text-align: center"| '''Clemson Tigers'''
| ] || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10&ndash;2 || 6&ndash;1
|- align="center";
! Name !! Position !! Consecutive season at Clemson in current position !! Previous position
|- align="center";
| ]|| ] / ] || 1st || TCU – Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks (2021–2022)
|- align="center";
| ] || ] / ] || 2nd || Clemson – Senior defensive assistant (]–2021)
|- align="center";
| ] || Co–defensive coordinator / ] || 2nd || Clemson – Safeties / special teams coordinator (2021)
|- align="center";
| ] || Special teams coordinator / ] || 2nd || Clemson – Defensive backs (]–2021)
|- align="center";
| ] || ] || 1st ||
|- align="center";
| ] || ] || 4th || Clemson – Offensive analyst (]–])
|- align="center";
| ] || ] || 3rd || Clemson – Graduate intern (2020)
|- align="center";
| ] || ] / passing game coordinator || 2nd || Clemson – Senior offensive assistant (2016–2021)
|- align="center";
| ] || ] || 6th || Clemson – Senior defensive analyst (])
|- align="center";
| ] || ] / run game coordinator || 2nd || ] – Defensive line (])
|- align="center";
| Joey Batson || Director of football strength & conditioning || 27th || ] – Director of strength training (1996)
|- |-
| colspan="4" style="font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"|'''Reference:'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Staff|url=https://daboswinney.com/staff/|website=daboswinney.com|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331043228/https://daboswinney.com/staff/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ] || ] || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9&ndash;2&ndash;1 || 6&ndash;0&ndash;1
|-
| ] || ] || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10&ndash;4 || 6&ndash;2
|-
| colspan=5 bgcolor="#522D80"| <span style="color:white;">'''Conference Titles: 18'''
|- style="text-align:left;"
| colspan=5 | <small>{{dagger}} Denotes co-champions</small>
|} |}


==Clemson traditions==
{{double-dagger}} In 1965, South Carolina violated participation rules relating to two ineligibile players and was required to forfeit wins against North Carolina State and Clemson.<ref name="mediaguidelist">{{Cite journal
*'''Howard's Rock''' In the early 1960s, the rock was given to then head coach Frank Howard by a friend, Samuel Columbus Jones (Clemson Class of 1919).<ref>Clemson Alumni Association, "Clemson Alumni: Today 2008," Harris Connect, Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia, 2007, no ISBN, page 1904.</ref> It was presented to Howard by Jones, saying "Here's a rock from Death Valley, California, to Death Valley, South Carolina."<ref name="Howard">Howard, Frank, with Bradley, Bob, and Parker, Virgil, "Howard," Howard, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1990, {{ISBN|0-934904-22-7}}, page 132.</ref> Howard didn't think anything else about the rock and it was used as a door stop in his office for several years. In September 1966, while cleaning out his office, Howard noticed the rock and told IPTAY executive director Gene Willimon, "Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch...do something with it, but get it out of my office."<ref name="Howard"/> Willimon had the rock placed on a pedestal at the top of the east endzone hill that the team ran down to enter the field for games.<ref name="Bradley">Bradley, Bob, "Death Valley Days," Longstreet Press, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, 1991, Library of Congress card number 91-061931, {{ISBN|1-56352-006-0}}, page 17.</ref> On September 24, 1966, the first time Clemson players ran by the rock, they beat conference rival Virginia, 40–35.<ref>Clemson Athletic Department, "2001 Clemson Football," Keys Printing, Greenville, South Carolina, 2001, no ISBN, page 340.</ref> Howard, seizing on the motivational potential of "The Rock", told his players, "Give me 110% or keep your filthy hands off of my rock."<ref name="Bradley"/> The team started rubbing the Rock for the first game of 1967, which was a 23–6 waxing of ACC foe Wake Forest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetigernet.com/football/history/hill.jsp|title=TigerNet – Football – Traditions – Running Down the Hill|work=thetigernet.com|access-date=December 8, 2011|archive-date=January 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103115937/http://thetigernet.com/football/history/hill.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref>
| title = ACC Champions
| journal = 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide (PDF)
| publisher = Atlantic Coast Conference
| year = 2007
| url = http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07fbguide093096.pdf
| format = PDF| pages = Page 93
| accessdate = 2011-09-05
| postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}
}}</ref>
North Carolina State and Clemson were then declared co-champions.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.thestate.com/2009/10/11/979470/usc-footballs-lost-title-team.html |title=USC football's lost title team of 1965 |author=Alex Riley |date=October 11, 2009 |work= |publisher=] |accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>


:As a result, it is now a tradition for the Clemson Army ] to protect the Rock for the 24 hours prior to the Clemson-South Carolina game when held in Death Valley. ROTC cadets keep a steady ] around the rock prior to the game, which can be heard across the campus. Part of the tradition comes after unknown parties vandalized the Rock prior to the 1992 South Carolina-Clemson game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19921121&id=yTEfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3200,1466481 |title=Vandals chip chunk off Howard's Rock |first=Gerald |last=Garrett |date=November 21, 1992 |newspaper=] |via=Google News Archive |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122212224/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19921121&id=yTEfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3200%2C1466481 |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 2, 2013, Howard's Rock was again vandalized when the case containing it was broken and a portion of the rock was removed by an apparent fan of the Tigers, who was eventually arrested following a police investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9433459/clemson-arrests-charges-man-connection-howard-rock-vandalism|title=Clemson arrests, charges man in connection to Howard's Rock vandalism|date=June 28, 2013|publisher=ESPN|access-date=November 21, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129053449/http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9433459/clemson-arrests-charges-man-connection-howard-rock-vandalism|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Conference affiliations'''
* 1899&ndash;1921: ] (charter member)
* 1921&ndash;1953: ] (charter member)
* 1953&ndash;present: ] (charter member)


* '''Gathering at the Paw''' One of the most criticized and misunderstood traditions in all of college football is Clemson's "Gathering At The Paw." After every home football game, fans are allowed to come onto the field to sing the alma mater, and gather around the center of the field. While many say it's "rushing" the field, in truth it's more of a gathering as there is a clock that tells fans when they can come onto the field. There is time given for players and coaches to get off of the field. It is done after every home game, win or lose.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armchairmedianetwork.com/gathering-paw-clemson-tradition/|title=Gathering at the Paw: A Clemson Tradition|first=Sage|last=Moody|date=October 19, 2016|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215200503/https://armchairmedianetwork.com/gathering-paw-clemson-tradition/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Divisional championships===
*'''Running Down the Hill''' Probably the most highly publicized tradition of the Clemson Tigers football team is the entrance, which ] referred to as "The Most Exciting 25 seconds in College Football."<ref name="Howard" /> Running down "The Hill" originally started out of practicality. Before the west stands were built, the football team dressed across the street at Fike Field House and ran from there to the gate and down the hill onto the field. Now, after exiting the stadium on the west side, the players load into buses which, escorted by police officers, make their way around the stadium to the east side where The Hill is located. This scene is shown on the JumboTron inside the stadium. When the buses arrive at the east side the players get out and gather at the top of the hill and stand around Howard's Rock; once most of the players are out of the buses and ready to go a cannon sounds; the band begins to play Tiger Rag and the players make their way down the hill. The spelling out of C-L-E-M-S-O-N during this Tiger Rag is one of, if not the, loudest times it will be spelled out during the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clemson.edu/about/traditions.html|title=Traditions {{!}} About {{!}} Clemson University, South Carolina|website=clemson.edu|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211110001/https://www.clemson.edu/about/traditions.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/clemson-video-gives-great-look-unique-pregame-experience-172201695.html|title=Clemson video gives a great look at what its unique pregame experience is like|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808233754/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/clemson-video-gives-great-look-unique-pregame-experience-172201695.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2005, the ] divided into two divisions of six teams each and began holding an ] at the conclusion of the regular football season to determine the ]. Clemson won its first outright ACC Atlantic Division championship in 2009 and again in 2011. In 2012, Clemson tied for share of the Atlantic Division Championship and was named co-champion of the division.
*'''Ring of Honor''' Created in 1994, the Ring of Honor is the highest award given to former coaches, players, and other individuals who made a direct impact on the football program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/ring-of-honor.html |title=Clemson University Official Athletic Site - Football |access-date=December 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208161419/http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/ring-of-honor.html |archive-date=February 8, 2012 }}</ref>
*'''The Graveyard''' The Graveyard is a mock cemetery near the football practice fields that features tombstones commemorating Clemson's victories over ranked opponents on the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/graveyard.html |title=Clemson University Official Athletic Site - Football |access-date=December 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503102555/http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/m-footbl/graveyard.html |archive-date=May 3, 2012 }}</ref>
*'''First Friday Parade''' The Clemson football season kicks off each year with the annual First Friday Parade. The once a year event takes place on the Friday afternoon prior to the first home football game. Floats from various fraternities and sororities and other campus organizations are represented in the parade that rolls down main street in Clemson. The parade culminates at the Amphitheater in the middle of campus where the first Pep Rally of the year takes place. The Grand Marshal of the Parade is featured at the Pep Rally. Recent Grand Marshals have ranged from current PGA professional Dillard Pruitt, to College Football Hall of Fame legends Jess Neely and Frank Howard, to noted television announcers Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian.
*'''Tailgating''' On October 15, 2012, Southern Living named Clemson the South's best tailgate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clemson Wins The South's Best Tailgate|url=http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/10/15/souths-best-tailgate-clemson/|publisher=southernliving.com|access-date=November 18, 2012|date=October 15, 2012|archive-date=November 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119011010/http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/10/15/souths-best-tailgate-clemson/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''Military Appreciation Game''' This honors Clemson's history as a military school. The team wears purple uniforms (their secondary color) for the annual Military Appreciation Game.


==Rivalries==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Year
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Coach
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Division Championship
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Game Result
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | Opponent
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | PF
!style="background:#F66733; color:white;" | PA
|-
| ] || ] || ACC Atlantic || '''L'''<sup>†</sup> || ] || 34 || 39
|-
| ] || ] || ACC Atlantic || '''W''' || ] || 38 || 10
|-
| ]‡ || ] || ACC Atlantic || || || ||
|- style="background:#522D80; color:white; font-weight:bold;"
| Totals
| —
| 3
| 1-1
| —
| 72
| 49
|}


===Alabama===
† On 7/18/2011, Georgia Tech was required to vacate their victory due to NCAA violations and the game is considered by the NCAA and ACC to have no winner.<ref>
{{Main|Alabama–Clemson football rivalry}}
{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6769894/ncaa-places-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-four-years-probation |title=NCAA places Georgia Tech on probation|author=ESPN.com |date=July 18, 2011 |work= |publisher=] |accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref>
The two ] schools have long, decorated histories in the sport of college football.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/clemson-alabama-playoff-rivalry-continues-in-sugar-bowl-120317 |title=Clemson-Alabama playoff rivalry continues in Sugar Bowl |work=Fox Sports |date=December 3, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011519/https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/clemson-alabama-playoff-rivalry-continues-in-sugar-bowl-120317 |url-status=live }}</ref> They first met on the football field on November 29, 1900.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ussporthistory.com/2016/01/11/alabama-vs-clemson-a-football-history/ |title=Alabama vs. Clemson: A Football History |work=Ussporthistory.com |date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624123854/https://ussporthistory.com/2016/01/11/alabama-vs-clemson-a-football-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Clemson won the inaugural matchup by a score of 35–0.<ref>{{cite web |author=Matt Brown |url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/161322040/clemson-alabama-football-matchup-history-1905 |title=Clemson seeks its first win vs. Alabama since 1905. |work=Sports on Earth |date=January 8, 2016 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226183358/http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/161322040/clemson-alabama-football-matchup-history-1905 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Crimson Tide and Tigers met again in 1904 and 1905, with Clemson winning both games.<ref name="sbnation.com">{{cite web |last=Kirk |first=Jason |url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/1/6/14180856/alabama-clemson-series-history-record-rivalry-2017-national-championship |title=Clemson's lost 13 straight to Bama since 1905. The last 2 are what brought us here |publisher=SBNation.com |date=January 9, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011450/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/1/6/14180856/alabama-clemson-series-history-record-rivalry-2017-national-championship |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning with the next meeting between the two squads in 1909, Alabama won the next thirteen matchups against Clemson.<ref name="sbnation.com"/> The Tide posted the biggest margin of victory in the rivalry in 1931, beating the Tigers by a margin of 74–7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://charlestondaily.net/interesting-facts-about-clemson-and-alabama-you-should-know-before-the-big-game-2018/ |title=Interesting facts about Clemson and Alabama you should know before the big game |work=Charlestondaily.net |date=January 1, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106034220/http://charlestondaily.net/interesting-facts-about-clemson-and-alabama-you-should-know-before-the-big-game-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/12/sports/college-football-florida-state-leaves-clemson-in-awe.html |title=COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Florida State Leaves Clemson in Awe |work=The New York Times |date=September 12, 1993 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702014541/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/12/sports/college-football-florida-state-leaves-clemson-in-awe.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the first seven games of Alabama's 13-game streak, Clemson only score seven total points and was shut out in six of the seven games.<ref name="sbnation.com"/> After a 56–0 shutout Alabama victory in 1975, the squads didn't meet again until 2008, when they squared off on opening weekend in ], Georgia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/010408aby.html |title=Alabama To Play Clemson In Season Opener At Georgia Dome |publisher=Cstv.com |date=January 4, 2008 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702035425/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/010408aby.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Tide emerged victorious with a 34–10 victory.<ref>{{cite web |author=Final |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=282430228 |title=Alabama vs. Clemson – Game Recap – August 30, 2008 |publisher=ESPN |date=August 31, 2008 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105050103/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=282430228 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The last four matchups between the squads have had national championship implications and have greatly re-intensified the rivalry. The teams squared off in the ] in ], resulting in Alabama emerging with a thrilling 45–40 victory.<ref>{{cite web |author=Final |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400852743 |title=Alabama vs. Clemson – Game Recap – January 11, 2016 |publisher=ESPN |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410232231/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400852743 |url-status=live }}</ref> The next year, the teams again found themselves doing battle in the ] in ], with Clemson emerging with a last-second 35–31 victory and their first win over the Crimson Tide since 1905.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400876570 |title=Clemson vs. Alabama – Game Recap – January 9, 2017 |publisher=ESPN |date=January 10, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109150121/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400876570 |url-status=live }}</ref> Once again the teams met in the ] semifinal in ], Louisiana with a trip to the ] game on the line.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2018/01/02/clemson-alabama-sugar-bowl-college-football-playoff-semifinal/994971001/ |title=Alabama suffocates Clemson in dominant Sugar Bowl victory |work=USA Today |date=January 2, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218161222/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2018/01/02/clemson-alabama-sugar-bowl-college-football-playoff-semifinal/994971001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Alabama won by a score of 24–6 following two costly Clemson interceptions in the second half.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400953413 |title=Alabama vs. Clemson – Game Recap – January 1, 2018 |publisher=ESPN |date=January 2, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109150124/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400953413 |url-status=live }}</ref> Their most recent meeting was in the ]. This time, Clemson dismantled the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide in a 44–16 rout to win its third national title.
‡ Clemson finished 7-1 in the ACC and was named co-champion of the Atlantic Division per ACC rules. Florida State played in the ACC Championship by owning the tie-breaker advantage.


Alabama leads the series 14–5 through the 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/alabama|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155735/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/alabama|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Undefeated seasons===
Since its beginnings in 1896, Clemson has completed five undefeated seasons.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/c/clemson/yearly_totals.php |title=Clemson Yearly Totals |author= |date= |work= |publisher=] |accessdate=September 5, 2011}}</ref> This includes three perfect seasons in which the Tigers were undefeated and untied:
* ], ], ], ], ]


==National polls== ===Auburn===
{{Main|Auburn–Clemson football rivalry}}
Clemson has ended their football season ranked 27 times in either the AP or Coaches Poll.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clemson in the Polls|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/c/clemson/in_the_polls.php|publisher=]|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref>
Clemson currently has four consecutive 10 win seasons for the second time in school history. It is the 4th longest active streak behind Alabama(7), Oregon(7) and NIU(5). FSU and Ohio State are tied for 5th place with 3 each. <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2313812-russell-athletic-bowl-2014-live-score-highlights-for-oklahoma-vs-clemson>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background:#F66733; color:white" | Year
! style="background:#F66733; color:white" | Record
! style="background:#F66733; color:white" | AP Poll†
! style="background:#F66733; color:white" | Coaches‡
! style="background:#F66733; color:white" | Harris
|-
|-
| 1939 || 9&ndash;1&ndash;0 || 12 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1948 || 11&ndash;0&ndash;0 || 11 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1950 || 9&ndash;0&ndash;1 || 10 || 12 || &ndash;
|-
| 1951 || 7&ndash;3&ndash;0 || 20 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1956 || 7&ndash;2&ndash;2 || 19 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1957 || 7&ndash;3&ndash;0 || &ndash; || 18 || &ndash;
|-
| 1958 || 8&ndash;3&ndash;0 || 12 || 13 || &ndash;
|-
| 1959 || 9&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 11 || 11 || &ndash;
|-
| 1977 || 8&ndash;3&ndash;1 || 19 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1978 || 11&ndash;1&ndash;0 || 6 || 7 || &ndash;
|-
| 1981 || 12&ndash;0&ndash;0 || 1 || 1 || &ndash;
|-
| 1982 || 9&ndash;1&ndash;1 || 8 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1983 || 9&ndash;1&ndash;1 || 11 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 1986 || 8&ndash;2&ndash;2 || 17 || 19 || &ndash;
|-
| 1987 || 10&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 12 || 10 || &ndash;
|-
| 1988 || 10&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 9 || 8 || &ndash;
|-
| 1989 || 10&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 12 || 11 || &ndash;
|-
| 1990 || 10&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 9 || 9 || &ndash;
|-
| 1991 || 9&ndash;2&ndash;1 || 18 || 17 || &ndash;
|-
| 1993 || 9&ndash;3&ndash;0 || 23 || 22 || &ndash;
|-
| 2000 || 9&ndash;3&ndash;0 || 16 || 14 || &ndash;
|-
| 2003 || 9&ndash;4&ndash;0 || 22 || 22 || &ndash;
|-
| 2005 || 8&ndash;4&ndash;0 || 21 || 21 || 23
|-
| 2007 || 9&ndash;4&ndash;0 || 21 || 22 || 16
|-
| 2009 || 9&ndash;5&ndash;0 || 24 || &ndash; || &ndash;
|-
| 2011 || 10&ndash;4&ndash;0 || 22 || 22 || 14
|-
| 2012 || 11&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 11 || 9 || 13
|-
| 2013 || 11&ndash;2&ndash;0 || 8 || 7 || 11
|-
| 2014 || 10&ndash;3&ndash;0 || 15 || 15 || &ndash;
|-
|}


These old rivals (which are often called sister schools) first played in 1899, but until 2010, had not faced each other in the regular season since 1971. Along with snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Tigers of the Plains, Clemson also snapped Auburn's 17-game winning streak coming off of the 2009–2011 seasons after a home-and-home series in the 2010–11 seasons. The ] then hosted the Auburn–Clemson rivalry the following year in the 2012 ]. Clemson defeated Auburn 26–19 riding on a 231-yard performance by ]. This game was notable due to ] absence, having been suspended the first two games due to a drug-related arrest in May 2012. Auburn leads the overall series 34–15–2 through the 2018 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/auburn|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155936/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/auburn|url-status=live}}</ref>
† ] began selecting the nation's Top 20 teams in 1936. Only the Top 10 teams were recognized from 1962-1967. The AP Poll expanded back to the Top 20 teams in 1968. In 1989, it began recognizing the Top 25 teams.

===Boston College===
‡ ] began selecting its Top 20 teams on a weekly basis in 1950 before expanding to the nations's Top 25 teams in 1990.
{{Main|O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy}}
The O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy was created in 2008 by the Boston College Gridiron Club to honor the tradition at both schools and to honor the legacy of ] and ], who played during the leather helmet era. The club plans to make this an annual presentation. Clemson first met Boston College on the football field in the 1940 ], the first ever bowl game for the Tigers and Eagles. Over the next 43 years, the teams met a total of 14 times. In 2005, Boston College joined the ACC and the Atlantic Division. Since then, the game has been played on an annual basis with Clemson winning the last 11 meetings. As of 2022 the Tigers lead the series 21–9–2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/boston-college|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Boston College Eagles football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155814/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/boston-college|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Florida State===
{{Main|Clemson–Florida State football rivalry}}
Between 1999 and 2007 the ACC Atlantic Division matchup between Clemson and Florida State was referred to as the "Bowden Bowl" to reflect the father-son head coach matchup between ] (Father, FSU) and ] (Son, Clemson). Their first meeting, in 1999, was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby Bowden won the first four matchups extending FSU's winning streak over Clemson to 11 dating back to 1992. Since 2003, Clemson is 11–6, including a 26–10 win in Clemson over then-No. 3 FSU. Also during this time the Tigers recorded a 27–20 win in ] in 2006 which broke a 17-year losing streak in ]. 2007 was the last Bowden Bowl game as Tommy resigned as head coach in October 2008. No. 3 Clemson pulled off a thriller in Tallahassee in 2016, 37–34, over the No. 12-ranked Seminoles. In 2018, No. 2 Clemson defeated Florida State in Tallahassee 59–10, which tied the Seminoles' worst loss margin in history. This marked a 2nd time the Tigers have beaten the Seminoles by more than 17-points. Clemson did it again in 2019, beating FSU 45–14. FSU has defeated Clemson by more than 17-points nine times. The most lopsided contest occurred in 1993, with the FSU squad winning 57–0. As of 2022, Florida State leads the overall series 20–15.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/florida-state|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Florida State Seminoles football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155651/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/florida-state|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the dissolution of divisions in ACC Football as of 2023, the annual Clemson-Florida State game often decided which team would represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship. However, under the ACC's new scheduling system, Clemson and Florida State are designated as permanent rivals and will continue to compete for the title every year. Because of the new ACC scheduling system, there is a chance these rivals could face each other a second time in the ACC Championship.

===Georgia===
{{Main|Clemson–Georgia football rivalry}}

The Bulldogs and the Tigers have played each other 64 times beginning in 1897, with the 64th meeting played in 2014. Clemson's only regular-season losses of the 1978, 1982, and 1991 campaigns all came at the hands of Georgia "between the hedges", whereas Georgia's only regular-season setback during the three years of the ] era came in Death Valley during ]'s 1981 national championship run.

During the two programs' simultaneous glory days of the early 1980s, no rivalry in all of college football was more important at the national level.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Andrew |title=Georgia vs. Clemson: An Endangered College Football Rivalry |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2171585-georgia-vs-clemson-an-endangered-college-football-rivalry |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> The Bulldogs and Tigers played each other every season from 1973 to 1987, with Scott Woerner's dramatic returns in 1980 and the nine turnovers forced by the Tigers in 1981 effectively settling the eventual national champion. No rivalry of that period was more competitive, as evidenced by the critical 11th-hour field goals kicked by Kevin Butler in 1984 and by David Treadwell more than once later in the decade. Despite blowouts in 1990 by the Tigers and in 1994 and 2003 by the Bulldogs, the series typically has remained very competitive with evenly matched games. Most recently, Georgia defeated Clemson 10–3 in the ] with neither team scoring an offensive touchdown; Georgia went on to win the national title in 2021. The Bulldogs maintains a 43–18–4 lead in the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/georgia|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155807/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/georgia|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Georgia Tech===
{{Main|Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry}}

Clemson's rivalry with Georgia Tech dates to 1898 with the first game being played in ].<ref name="2018MG">{{cite web |title=2018 Media Guide |url=http://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018ClemsonFootballMediaGuide.pdf |website=clemsontigers.com |publisher=Clemson Athletics |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905102040/http://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018ClemsonFootballMediaGuide.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Notably, both programs share the privilege of having ] as a former coach. It was played in Atlanta for 44 of the first 47 match-ups, until Georgia Tech joined the ACC. When the Yellowjackets joined the ACC in 1978, the series moved to a more traditional home-and-home setup beginning with the 1983 game. When the ACC expanded to 12 teams and split into two divisions in 2005, Clemson and Georgia Tech were placed in opposite divisions but were designated permanent cross-divisional rivals so that the series may continue uninterrupted. In the new system without divisions, they remain as such. The two schools are 127 miles apart and connected to each other by ]. This distance is slightly closer than that between Clemson and traditional rival South Carolina (137 miles). Georgia Tech leads the series 50–35–2 with Clemson winning the last 8 in a row.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/georgia-tech|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155901/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/georgia-tech|url-status=live}}</ref>

===NC State===
{{Main|Textile Bowl}}
The yearly conference and divisional match-up with ] is known as the ] for the schools' similar missions in research and development for the textile industry in the Carolinas. The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1899. Clemson has won 18 out of 23 contests since 2000. It is a particularly bitter rivalry amongst fans and students of both schools, even though it is not as competitive as the vitriol would suggest. Clemson holds a 60–30–1 series advantage through the 2023 season. NC State has won 2 out of the last 3 games in the rivalry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/north-carolina-state|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923223819/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/north-carolina-state|url-status=live}}</ref>

===South Carolina===
{{Main|Clemson–South Carolina rivalry}}
The ], which dates back to 1896, is the largest annual sporting event in terms of ticket sales in the state of South Carolina. From 1896 to 1959, the Clemson–South Carolina game was played on the fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina and was referred to as "Big Thursday." Beginning in 1960, an alternating-site format was implemented using both teams' home stadiums. The annual game has since been designated "The Palmetto Bowl."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thepalmettobowl.com|title=Clemson vs. South Carolina: The Palmetto Bowl|website=The Palmetto Bowl|access-date=April 29, 2022|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403202052/https://thepalmettobowl.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> The last eight contests between the programs have been nationally televised (4 on ESPN, 4 on ESPN2). Clemson holds a commanding 73–43-4 lead in the series through the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/south-carolina|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football series history|website=Winsipedia|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925155921/http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/south-carolina|url-status=live}}</ref> It is often considered one of the most heated rivalries in all of college football, on a similar level to the ] and ] rivalries, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=College football's 12 best rivalry games |url=https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/College-footballs-12-best-rivalry-games-198355378/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=247Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Individual award winners== ==Individual award winners==
{{See also|Clemson Tigers football statistical leaders}}


===College Football Hall of Fame inductees=== ===College Football Hall of Fame inductees===
In 1951, the ] opened in ]. Clemson has had 3 players and 3 former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Famers: Clemson|url=http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?school=clemson&sortby=name|publisher=College Football Hall of Fame|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref> In 1951, the ] opened in ]. Clemson has had 3 players and 4 former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx|title=Hall of Fame: Select group by school|work=]|publisher=Football Foundation|access-date=September 6, 2011|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215440/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Name
! Years at Clemson
! Position
! Year Inducted
|- |-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Name|Years|Position|Inducted|Ref.}}
|]
|1978–1981
|]
|2007
|- |-
|] | ]
|1900–1903 | 1900–1903
|] | Head coach
|1954 | 1954
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1297|title=John Heisman (1954) – Hall of Fame|website=National Football Foundation|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429125043/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1297|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- |-
| ]
|]
| 1937–1939
|1940–1969
|] | ]
| 1959
|1989
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1467|title=Banks McFadden (1959) – Hall of Fame|website=National Football Foundation|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429125043/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1467|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- |-
|] | ]
| 1931–1939
|1978–1982
| Head coach
|]
| 1971
|2001
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1658|title=Jess Neely (1971) – Hall of Fame|website=National Football Foundation|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429125044/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1658|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- |-
| ]
|]
| 1940–1969
|1937–1939
| Head coach
|]
| 1989
|1959
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1735|title=Frank Howard (1989) – Hall of Fame|website=National Football Foundation|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429125044/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1735|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- |-
|] | ]
| 1978–1982
|1931–1939
| ]
|]
| 2001
|1971
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2066|title=Terry Kinard (2001) – Hall of Fame|website=National Football Foundation|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429125044/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2066|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ]
| 1978–1981
| ]
| 2007
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2204|title=Jeff Davis (2007) – Hall of Fame – National Football Foundation|website=National Football Foundation}}</ref>
|-
| ]
| 1978–1989
| ]
| 2017
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2405|title=Danny Ford (2017) – Hall of Fame|website=National Football Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfbhall.com/about/blog/2017-hall-of-fame-class-danny-ford/ |title=2017 Hall of Fame Class: Danny Ford |publisher=Cfbhall.com |date=December 4, 1978 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031052516/https://www.cfbhall.com/about/blog/2017-hall-of-fame-class-danny-ford/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ]
| 2006–2009
| ]
| 2021
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clemsontigers.com/spiller-college-football-hall-of-fame/|title=Spiller Selected for Induction in College Football Hall of Fame|date=January 11, 2021|website=Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=September 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919065847/https://clemsontigers.com/spiller-college-football-hall-of-fame/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- |-
|} |}


===Retired Numbers=== ===Retired numbers===
{{Also|List of NCAA football retired numbers}}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Number
! Name
! Years at Clemson
! Position
! Year Retired
|- |-
| colspan=6 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}| '''Clemson Tigers retired numbers'''
|'''4'''
|] +
|1975–1978
|]
|1979
|- |-
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}; width=50px | No.
|'''66'''
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}; width=150px | Player
|]
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}; width=50px | Pos.
|1937–1939
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}; width=100px | Tenure
|]
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}; width=100px | Year retired
|1987
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|color=white}}; width=50px | Ref.
|- |-
|'''28''' | '''4'''
| ] {{refn|No. 4 was brought out of retirement in 2014 to be worn by quarterback ].<ref name="Fuller" />|group=n|name=fourout}}
|]
| 1975–1978
|2006–2009
|] | ]
| 1979
|2010
| <ref name="Fuller">{{cite web|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2017/01/08/fuller-watson-and-legacy-no-4/96298164/ |title=Steve Fuller, Deshaun Watson and the legacy of No. 4 |publisher=Greenvilleonline.com |date=January 8, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2019|quote=Watson has worn uniform No. 4 – his number at Gainesville High School – thanks to former Clemson standout quarterback Steve Fuller, who agreed to have his jersey come out of retirement several years ago, not long after Watson committed to coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.}}</ref>
|- |-
| '''28'''
| ] {{refn|Number 28 was brought out of retirement in 2016 to be worn by running back Tavien Feaster, with Spiller's blessing.<ref name="Spiller" />|group=n|name=spillreturn}}
| 2006–2009
| ]
| 2010
| <ref name="Spiller">{{cite web|url=http://rubbingtherock.com/2016/07/25/clemson-football-tavien-feaster-gets-c-j-spillers-number/|title=Clemson Football: Tavien Feaster gets C.J. Spiller's number|last=rewBoardwine|date=July 25, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2017|quote=The Clemson freshmen numbers were released today and running back Tavien Feaster will wearing No. 28, the first player to do since explosive playmaker C. J. Spiller was in Tiger Town. Feaster wore No. 28 throughout high school and it seems that the number will come out of retirement for the explosive freshman this season.|archive-date=October 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005200638/http://rubbingtherock.com/2016/07/25/clemson-football-tavien-feaster-gets-c-j-spillers-number/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''66'''
| ] {{refn|McFadden's has also his #23 retired in Clemson's basketball.<ref name="McFadden" />|group=n|name=mcfadret}}
| 1937–1939
| ]
| 1987
| <ref name="McFadden">{{Cite web|url=https://clemsontigers.com/banks-mcfadden-the-great-2/|title=Banks McFadden, "The Great"|date=October 29, 2014|website=Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site|quote=In 1987, both his uniform numbers—23 in basketball and 66 in football—were retired by Clemson Athletics.|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=May 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515121058/https://clemsontigers.com/banks-mcfadden-the-great-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|} |}
;Notes

{{reflist|group=n}}
+ ]'s number 4 was retired in 1979. However, it was brought out of retirement in 2014 to be worn by Clemson's 5 star quarterback recruit, ].


===National award winners=== ===National award winners===
Line 793: Line 688:
*'''CBS/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year''' *'''CBS/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year'''
:] (1982) :] (1982)
*''']'''
:] (2011)
{{col-3}}
*''']''' *''']'''
:] (2010) :] (2010)
:] (2018)
{{col-3}}
*''']''' *''']'''
:] (2010) :] (2010)
*''']'''
:] (2011)
*''']'''
:] (2011)
:] (2018)
{{col-3}}
*''']'''
:] (2015)
:] (2018)
*''']'''
:] (2015, 2016)
*''']'''
:] (2015, 2016)
*''']'''
:] (2016)
*'''Bobby Bowden Trophy'''
:] (2016)
:] (2018)
{{col-3}}
*''']'''
:] (2016)
*''']'''
:] (2016)
*''']'''
:] (2017)
*''']'''
:] (2018)
*''']'''
:] (2018)
*''']'''
:] (2019)
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}


Line 808: Line 731:
*''']''' *''']'''
:] (1981) :] (1981)
:] (2015)
*''']'''
:] (2013)
:Dan Brooks (2016)
*''']'''
:] (2015)
*''']''' *''']'''
:] (2011) :] (2011)
{{col-3}} {{col-3}}
*'''] *''']'''
:] (2016)
:] (2017)
*'''Grant Teaff Award'''
:] (2014)
*''']'''
:] (2015)
*''']'''
:] (1981) :] (1981)
*''']'''
*''']
:] (2013) :] (2015, 2016, 2018)
{{col-3}} {{col-3}}
*''']''' *''']'''
:] (2015)
*''']'''
:] (2015)
*''']'''
:] (2015)
*''']'''
:] (1981) :] (1981)
:] (2018)
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}


===Consensus All-Americans=== ===Consensus All-Americans===
{{See also|All-America|College Football All-America Team}} {{See also|College Football All-America Team}}
The NCAA recognizes All-Americans selected by the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), The Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) to determine if a player is regarded as a Consensus or Unanimous All-American. To be selected a Consensus All-American, a player must be chosen to the first team on at least three of the five official selectors as recognized by the NCAA. If a player is named an All-American by all five organizations, he is recognized as a Unanimous All-America. Clemson players have been honored 28 times as Consensus All-Americans, and 6 times as Unanimous All-Americas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winsipedia.com/ranking/all-americans |title=College football CONSENSUS ALL AMERICANS rankings |publisher=Winsipedia |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108065630/http://www.winsipedia.com/ranking/all-americans |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/12/13/18138052/all-america-team-2018-consensus-unanimous|title=A composite 2018 All-America team, led by Bama, Clemson, and LSU|last=Moriarty|first=Morgan|date=December 13, 2018|website=SBNation.com|access-date=January 7, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107181101/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/12/13/18138052/all-america-team-2018-consensus-unanimous|url-status=live}}</ref>
Clemson players have been honored 23 times as consensus All-Americans.<ref>{{cite web|title=College Football Consensus All Americans|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/ranking/all-americans|publisher=winsipedia.com|accessdate=30 January 2014|date=January 30, 2014}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" {| class="wikitable"
! colspan=4 style="background: #F66733; color: #FFFFFF;"| Consensus All-Americans
|- |-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year(s)|Name|Number|Position}}
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Year(s)
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Name
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Number
! style="background:#F66733; color:#FFFFFF;"|Position
|- |-
| 1974 || Harry Olszewski || 51 || G | 1967 || ] || 51 || G
|- |-
| 1979 || Bennie Cunningham || 85 || TE | 1974 || ] || 85 || TE
|- |-
| 1981 || Jim Stuckey || 83 || DL | 1979 || ] || 83 || DL
|- |-
| 1981 || Jeff Davis || 45 || LB | 1981 || ] || 45 || LB
|- |-
| 1981-1982 || Terry Kinard || 43 || DB | 1981–1982† || ] || 43 || DB
|- |-
| 1983 || William Perry || 66 || DL | 1983 || ] || 66 || DL
|- |-
| 1986 || Terrence Flagler || 33 || RB | 1986 || ] || 33 || RB
|- |-
| 1987 || David Treadwell || 18 || PK | 1987 || ] || 18 || PK
|- |-
| 1988 || Donnell Woolford || 20 || DB | 1988 || ] || 20 || DB
|- |-
| 1990 || Stacy Long || 67 || OL | 1990 || Stacy Long || 67 || OL
Line 854: Line 793:
| 1991 || ] || 59 || OL | 1991 || ] || 59 || OL
|- |-
| 1991 || Levon Kirkland || 44 || CB | 1991 || ] || 44 || LB
|- |-
| 1993 || Stacy Seegars || 79 || OL | 1993 || Stacy Seegars || 79 || OL
Line 864: Line 803:
| 2005 || Tye Hill || 8 || DB | 2005 || Tye Hill || 8 || DB
|- |-
| 2006 || Gaines Adams || 93 || DL | 2006† || ] || 93 || DL
|-
| 2009† || ] || 28 || KR/AP
|-
| 2010† || ] || 93 || DL
|-
| 2011 || ] || 83 || TE
|-
| 2013–2014 || ] || 3 || DL
|-
| 2015 || ] || 4 || QB
|-
| 2015 || ] || 90 || DL
|-
| 2018 || ] || 99 || DL
|- |-
| 2009 || C. J. Spiller || 28 || KR/AP | 2018 || ] || 75 || OL
|- |-
| 2010 || Da'Quan Bowers || 93 || DL | 2018† || ] || 42 || DL
|- |-
| 2011 || Dwayne Allen || 83 || TE | 2019† || ] || 11 || LB
|- |-
| 2013 || Vic Beasley || 3 || DL | 2019 || ] || 74 || OL
|- |-
| 2014 || Vic Beasley || 3 || DL | 2020 || ] || 9 || AP
|} |}
† ]


===Atlantic Coast Conference awards=== ===Atlantic Coast Conference awards===
{{col-begin}} {{col-begin}}
{{col-4}} {{col-4}}
*''']''' *''']'''
:Buddy Gore (1967) :Buddy Gore (1967)
:] (1977, 1978) :] (1977, 1978)
Line 886: Line 840:
:] (1984) :] (1984)
:] (1987) :] (1987)
:] (2009) :] (2009)
:] (2012) :] (2012)
:] (2015)
*''']'''
:] (2018, 2019)
:] (1958, 1966)
:] (2020)
*''']'''
:] (1958, 1966)
:] (1974) :] (1974)
:] (1977, 1978) :] (1977, 1978)
:] (1981) :] (1981)
:] (1999, 2003) :] (1999, 2003)
:] (2015, 2018)
{{col-4}} {{col-4}}
*'''] *''']'''
:] (2009) :] (2009)
:] (2012) :] (2012)
:] (2015)
*''']
:] (2018, 2019)
:] (2020)
*''']'''
:] (1999) :] (1999)
:] (2004) :] (2004)
Line 904: Line 865:
:] (2010) :] (2010)
:] (2014) :] (2014)
:] (2016)
:] (2018)
:] (2019)
{{col-4}} {{col-4}}
*''']''' *''']'''
:Chuck McSwain (1979) :Chuck McSwain (1979)
:] (1987) :] (1987)
:] (1990) :] (1990)
:] (1995) :] (1995)
:] (2005) :] (2005)
:] (2011) :] (2011)
:] (2018)
*''']'''
*''']'''
:] (2011) :] (2011)
:] (2018)
*''']'''
:] (2016)
:] (2020)
:Andrew Mukuba (2021)
{{col-4}} {{col-4}}
*'''] *''']'''
:Doug Cline (1959) :Doug Cline (1959)
:Wayne Mass (1966) :Wayne Mass (1966)
Line 922: Line 892:
:Lee Nanney (1981) :Lee Nanney (1981)
:James Farr (1983) :James Farr (1983)
:John Phillips (1987) :John Phillips (1987)
:] (2017, 2018)
*''']
:Jordan McFadden (2022)
*''']'''
:Rex Varn (1978) :Rex Varn (1978)
:Jack Cain (1980) :Jack Cain (1980)
:Ray Williams (1986) :Ray Williams (1986)
:Warren Forney (1995) :Warren Forney (1995)
:] (2021)
*''']'''
:Ed Glenn (1994)
:Kyle Young (2001)
:] (2018)
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}


===Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary football team=== ===Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary football team===
On July 23, 2002 in celebration of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 50th Anniversary, a 120-member blue ribbon committee selected the Top 50 football players in ACC history. Clemson led all conference schools with the most players selected to the Golden Anniversary team.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACC 50th Anniversary Football Team Announced|url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072302aag.html|publisher=theacc.com|accessdate=6 September 2011|date=July 23, 2002}}</ref> On July 23, 2002, in celebration of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 50th Anniversary, a 120-member blue ribbon committee selected the Top 50 football players in ACC history. Clemson led all conference schools with the most players selected to the Golden Anniversary team.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACC 50th Anniversary Football Team Announced|url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072302aag.html|publisher=theacc.com|access-date=September 6, 2011|date=July 23, 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322100745/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072302aag.html|archive-date=March 22, 2012}}</ref>
Each of Clemson's honorees were All-Americans and former NFL players. The nine selectees from Clemson were: Each of Clemson's honorees are All-Americans and former NFL players. The nine selectees from Clemson are:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{multicol}}
*], (1975&ndash;1978) *] (1975–1978)
*], (1975&ndash;1978) *] (1975–1978)
*], (1973&ndash;1975) *] (1973–1975)
*] (1978–1981)
{{multicol-break}}
*], (1978&ndash;1981) *] (1975–1978)
*] (1978–1982)
*], (1975&ndash;1978)
*], (1978&ndash;1982) *] (1984–1987)
*] (1981–1984)
{{multicol-break}}
*] (1995–1997)
*], (1984&ndash;1987)
{{div col end}}
*], (1981&ndash;1984)
*], (1995&ndash;1997)
{{multicol-end}}


==Current NFL players== ==NFL players==
Source {{when|date=December 2020}}
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] No. 87
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 25
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 90
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 76
*] - ], ] No. 90
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 1
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 99
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 50
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 5
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 8
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 97
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 97
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 16
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 34
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 71
*] – ], ] No. 30
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 99
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No.98
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 13
*] - ], ] No. 67
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 98
*] - ], ] *] - ], ] No. 82
*] - ], ] No. 28
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] *] – ], ] No. 19
*] – ], ] No. 76
*] - ], ]
*] - ], ] No. 23
*] - ], ] No. 54
*] – ], ] No. 24
*] - ], ] No. 54
*] - ], ] No. 54
*] – ], ] No. 24
*] – ], ] No. 4
*] - ], ] No. 2
*] – ], ] No. 94
*] - ], ] No. 75
*] – ], ] No. 18


==All-time record vs. current ACC teams==
== Future non-conference opponents<ref name="nonconfopp">{{cite web| title=Clemson Tigers Football Schedules and Future Schedules|publisher=fbschedules.com| url=http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/acc/clemson-tigers.php|accessdate=2012-08-14}}</ref>==
<ref name="data.clemsontigers.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228|title=2021 Clemson Tigers Schedule|website=ESPN|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220022803/https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Opponent|Won|Lost|Tied|Percentage|Streak|First meeting|Last meeting}}
|-
| ] || 21 || 9 || 2 || {{winpct|21|9|2}} || Won 11 || ] || 2022
|-
| ] || 0 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|0|1|0}} || Lost 1 || ] || 1991
|-
| ] || 37 || 17 || 1 || {{winpct|37|17|1}} || Lost 1 || ] || 2023
|-
| ] || 16 || 21 || 0 || {{winpct|16|21}}|| Won 1 || ] || 2024
|-
| ] || 36 || 50 || 2 || {{winpct|36|50|2}}|| Won 9 ||] || 2023
|-
| ] || 8 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|8|1|0}}|| Lost 1 || ] || 2024
|-
| ] || 7 || 7 || 0 || {{winpct|7|7}}|| Lost 1 || ] || 2023
|-
| ] || 40 || 19 || 1 || {{winpct|40|19|1}}|| Won 6 || ] || 2023
|-
| ] || 61|| 30 || 1 || {{winpct|61|30|1}}|| Won 1 || ] || 2024
|- |-
| ] || 5 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|5|3|0}}|| Won 1 || ] || 2023
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2016
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2017
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2018
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2019
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2020
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2021
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2022
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2023
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| 2024
|- |-
| ] || 3 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|2|3|0}}|| Won 1 || ] || 2024
| at ] || vs ] || at ] || vs ] || at ] || vs ] || at ] || vs ] || vs ]
|- |-
| ] || 0 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|0|0|0}}|| – || – || –
| vs ] || vs ] || vs ] || vs ] || vs ] || at ] || vs ] || vs ] ||
|-
| ] || 2 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0|0}}|| Won 2 || ] || 2024
|-
| ] || 10 || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|10|2|0}}|| Won 6 || ] || 2023
|-
| ] || 41 || 8 || 1 || {{winpct|41|8|1}}|| Won 5 || ] || 2024
|-
| ] || 24 || 12 || 1 || {{winpct|23|12|1}}|| Won 7 || ] || 2024
|- |-
| ] || 72 || 17 || 1 || {{winpct|72|17|1}}|| Won 16 || ] || 2024
| vs ] || vs ] || vs ] || vs ] || vs ] || || vs ] || at ] ||
|-
{{CollegeSecondaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Totals|371|197|10|{{winpct|371|197|10}}|||}}

|}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACC temporarily added Notre Dame as a member for just the 2020 season. Wins and losses to Notre Dame in 2020 count toward standings and all-time records.

==Future non-conference opponents==
Announced schedules as of January 3, 2023.<ref name="nonconfopp">{{cite web|url=https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/clemson/|title=Future Clemson Football Schedules|publisher=fbschedules.com|access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|2024|2025|2026|2027|2028|2029|2030}}
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{| class="wikitable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|2031|2032|2033|2034|2035|2036|2037}}
|-
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==Clemson vs. in-state NCAA Division I teams==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|School|Record|Percentage|Streak|First meeting|Last meeting}}
|-
| ] || 1–0 || {{Winning percentage|1|0}} || Won 1 || 2009 || 2009
|-
| ] || 44–10–4 || {{Winning percentage|44|10|4}} || Won 31 || 1896 || 2022
|-
| ] || 33–3–4 || {{Winning percentage|33|3|4}} || Won 15 || 1916 || 2010
|-
| ] || 73–43–4 || {{Winning percentage|73|42|4}} || Won 1 || 1896 || 2023
|-
| ] || 5–0 || {{Winning percentage|4|0}} || Won 5 || 2008 || 2021
|-
| ] || 33–5–1 || {{Winning percentage|33|5|1}} || Won 18 || 1909 || 2020
|-
| ] || 13–3 || {{Winning percentage|13|3}} || Won 6 || 1896 || 2019
|-
|}
<ref name="data.clemsontigers.com"/>


==Recruiting== ==Recruiting==
Clemson Tigers Football from '''Rivals.com''' team recruitment rankings: Clemson Tigers Football '''Rivals.com'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2024/all-teams/football/recruiting |title=Rivals.com 2024 recruiting team rankings |publisher=Rivals.com |access-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827104924/https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2024/all-teams/football |url-status=live }}</ref> team recruitment rankings under head coach Dabo Swinney:


{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Clemson Tigers|Year|National rank|Commits}}
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| Year
| '''2024'''|| 10th || 22
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| National Rank
! style="background: #F66733; color:white;"| Commits
|- |-
| '''2015'''|| 4th || 23 | '''2023'''|| 10th || 22
|-
| '''2023'''|| 10th || 26
|-
| '''2022'''|| 10th || 20
|-
| '''2021'''|| 6th || 19
|-
|'''2020'''
|2nd
|23<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Team Rankings|url=https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2020/all-teams/football|access-date=2020-07-30|website=n.rivals.com|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622161732/https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2020/all-teams/football|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|'''2019'''
|9th
|28<ref>{{Cite web|title=2019 Team Rankings|url=https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2019/all-teams/football|access-date=2020-07-30|website=n.rivals.com|archive-date=February 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206102250/https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2019/all-teams/football|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''2018'''|| 8th || 17
|-
| '''2017'''|| 22nd || 14
|-
| '''2016'''|| 6th || 22
|-
| '''2015'''|| 4th || 25
|- |-
| '''2014'''|| 13th || 22 | '''2014'''|| 13th || 22
Line 1,016: Line 1,131:
| '''2011'''|| 8th || 29 | '''2011'''|| 8th || 29
|- |-
| '''2010'''|| 19th || 23 | '''2010'''|| 19th || 24
|-
| '''2009'''|| 37th || 12
|} |}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author=Bob Bradley, Sam Blackman, Chuck Kriese|year=1999|title=Clemson: Where the Tigers Play - The History of Clemson University Athletics |publisher=Sports Publishing|isbn=1-58261-369-9}} * {{cite book|author1=Bob Bradley |author2=Sam Blackman |author3=Chuck Kriese |year=1999|title=Clemson: Where the Tigers Play – The History of Clemson University Athletics |publisher=Sports Publishing|isbn=1-58261-369-9}}

Seifried, C.S., Soles, M., Downs, B.J., & Bolton, C. (2019). The Build-up to Death Valley: Clemson Football Facilities Before Memorial Stadium. South Carolina Historical Magazine, 120(4), 234-259.


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/clem-m-footbl-body.html}}
* {{Official website}}


{{Clemson Tigers football navbox}} {{Clemson Tigers football navbox}}
{{Clemson Tigers athletic navbox}} {{Clemson University}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference football navbox}} {{Atlantic Coast Conference football navbox}}


] ]
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Latest revision as of 00:40, 22 December 2024

College Football Bowl Subdivision team; member of Atlantic Coast Conference

Clemson Tigers football
2024 Clemson Tigers football team
First season1896; 128 years ago
Athletic directorGraham Neff
Head coachDabo Swinney
15th season, 180–47 (.793)
StadiumMemorial Stadium
(capacity: 82,000)
FieldFrank Howard Field
Year built1942
Field surfaceNatural Grass
LocationClemson, South Carolina
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Past conferencesSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) (1896–1921)
Southern Conference (SoCon) (1921–1952)
All-time record804–473–44 (.625)
Bowl record27–23 (.540)
Playoff appearances7 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024)
Playoff record6–4 (.600)
Claimed national titles3 (1981, 2016, 2018)
National finalist4 (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
Conference titles28 TOTAL

ACC: 22

SIAA: 5

SoCon: 2
Division titles9
RivalriesAlabama (rivalry)
Auburn (rivalry)
Florida State (rivalry)
Georgia (rivalry)
Georgia Tech (rivalry)
NC State (rivalry)
South Carolina (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans31
Current uniform
ColorsOrange and regalia
   
Fight songTiger Rag
MascotThe Tiger
Marching bandClemson University Tiger Band
OutfitterNike
Websiteclemsontigers.com

The Clemson Tigers football program are the American football team at Clemson University. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In recent years, the Tigers have been ranked among the most elite college football programs in the United States.

Formed in 1896, the program has an all-time record of 804–473–44, with a bowl record of 27-23. Clemson was a College Football Playoff finalist in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019, defeating Alabama in both 2016 and 2018 to secure the national title. Clemson has had six undefeated seasons (including the first-ever 15–0 team), boasted six consecutive playoff appearances from 2015 to 2021, and retains 27 conference championships, including 8 since 2011. Its alumni include over 100 All-Americans, 17 Academic All-Americans and over 250 players in the National Football League. Clemson has had eight members inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: players Banks McFadden, Terry Kinard, Jeff Davis, and C. J. Spiller along with coaches John Heisman, Jess Neely, Frank Howard, and Danny Ford.

Clemson is one of the founding members of the ACC and holds 22 ACC titles, the most of any member. Its 28 total conference titles, including six consecutive ACC titles from 2015 to 2020, are the most of any ACC school. Clemson's most recent ACC title came in 2024, against SMU. Clemson's streak of eleven consecutive 10-win seasons from 2011-2022 ranked second in active streaks behind the Alabama Crimson Tide, coming to an end after Clemson's 2023 season where they finished with a 9-4 record. Among its eight undefeated regular seasons, Clemson has been crowned national champion 3 times. Clemson was named poll-era national champion and finished with its third perfect season with a win over Nebraska in the 1982 Orange Bowl. Clemson was the National Championship Finalist Runner-up with a 14–1 record in 2015 before winning the National Title over No. 1 Alabama in college football's first National Championship rematch in 2016, and again in 2018. The Tigers have 46 bowl appearances, 20 of which are among the New Year's Six Bowls, including nine during the "Big Four" era. Clemson has 34 finishes in the final top 25 in the modern era and it finished in either the Associated Press final poll or the coaches' final poll a combined 59 times since 1939.

The Tigers play their home games in Memorial Stadium on the university's Clemson, South Carolina campus. The stadium's nickname, "Death Valley" was coined in 1948 by Presbyterian College head coach Lonnie McMillan after his teams were routinely defeated there. Memorial Stadium is among the largest stadiums in college football.

History

Main article: History of Clemson Tigers football See also: List of Clemson Tigers football seasons
Walter Riggs, the "father of Clemson football"

Walter Riggs, often regarded as the "father of Clemson football," brought the sport to Clemson from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now Auburn University). The team's first game, played on Halloween 1896, resulted in a 2–1 record for the inaugural season. Riggs influenced the choice of the team mascot and colors. The Tigers’ early success included their first undefeated season in 1900 under coach John W. Heisman, who led the team to a 19–3–2 record. Heisman’s coaching set a precedent for excellence and innovation.

During the mid-20th century, the program experienced substantial growth under Frank Howard, who coached from 1940 to 1969. Howard's tenure saw Clemson win two Southern Conference championships and six ACC championships. Known for his colorful personality and imaginative storytelling, Howard integrated various offensive formations. His legacy includes the tradition of rubbing "Howard's Rock" before home games and the naming of the playing field at Memorial Stadium as "Frank Howard Field" in 1974.

The late 20th century and early 21st century saw the football program navigate through challenges and successes under multiple head coaches. Danny Ford led the Tigers to their first national championship in 1981, achieving an undefeated season. Ford's era was marked by NCAA sanctions due to recruiting violations, which impacted the program's reputation and success. Ken Hatfield, Ford’s successor, focused on cleaning up the program's image but faced criticism from fans, leading to his resignation. Subsequent coaches, including Tommy West, struggled to achieve consistent success until the hiring of Tommy Bowden in 1999, who maintained bowl eligibility every season, but failed to secure an ACC championship.

Coach Dabo Swinney

The modern era is defined by the leadership of Dabo Swinney, who became head coach in 2008. Swinney revitalized the program, leading the Tigers to multiple ACC championships and two national titles in 2016 and 2018. His tenure has been characterized by significant achievements, including the establishment of Clemson as a perennial contender in the College Football Playoff. Swinney’s ability to recruit and develop talent, combined with strategic hires like offensive coordinator Chad Morris and defensive coordinator Brent Venables, has sustained Clemson’s success. Notably, under Swinney, Clemson became the first team since 1897 to finish a season 15–0. In 2022, Clemson defeated Syracuse 27–21, extending the Tigers' home winning streak to 38, a new ACC record.

Conference affiliations

Championships

National championships

Clemson claims three national championships. In 1981 they finished as the only undefeated team with a 22–15 victory over the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl, and were named the national champions by all major four consensus selectors (AP, Coaches, FWAA, and NFF). In 2016 and 2018 they won the College Football Playoff, defeating Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game both times.

Year Coach Selector Record Bowl Final AP Final Coaches
1981 Danny Ford AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF 12–0 Won Orange Bowl No. 1 No. 1
2016 Dabo Swinney AP, Coaches, CFP, NFF 14–1 Won Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
Won CFP National Championship		 No. 1 No. 1
2018 AP, Coaches, CFP, NFF 15–0 Won Cotton Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
Won CFP National Championship		 No. 1 No. 1

† Other selectors for 1981 included Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, Helms, Litkenhous, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, New York Times, Poling, Sagarin, and Sporting News
†† Other selectors for 2016 include A&H, BR, CCR, CFRA, DuS, MCFR, SR, W
††† Other selectors for 2018 include A&H, BR, CCR, CFRA, CM, DuS, MCFR, SR, W

Conference championships

Clemson won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1900 and 1902 (tied 1903 and 1906) along with the Southern Conference title in 1940 and 1948. Their 22 ACC titles (20 outright, 2 tied) are the most ACC football championships. In 1965, South Carolina violated participation rules relating to two ineligible players and was required to forfeit wins against North Carolina State and Clemson. North Carolina State and Clemson were then declared co-champions.

Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1900 John Heisman Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association 6–0 4–0
1902 6–1 6–0
1903† 4–1–1 2–0–1
1906† Bob Williams 4–0–3 4–0
1940 Frank Howard Southern Conference 6–2–1 4–0
1948 11–0 5–0
1956 Atlantic Coast Conference 7–2–2 4–0–1
1958 8–3 5–1
1959 9–2 6–1
1965† 5–5 5–2
1966 6–4 6–1
1967 6–4 6–0
1978 Charley Pell 11–1 6–0
1981 Danny Ford 12–0 6–0
1982 9–1–1 6–0
1986 8–2–2 5–1–1
1987 10–2 6–1
1988 10–2 6–1
1991 Ken Hatfield 9–2–1 6–0–1
2011 Dabo Swinney 10–4 6–2
2015 14–1 8–0
2016 14–1 7-1
2017 12–2 7–1
2018 15–0 8–0
2019 14–1 8–0
2020 10–2 8–1
2022 11–3 8–0
2024 10–3 7–1

† Co-champions

Division championships

In 2005, the Atlantic Coast Conference divided into two divisions of six teams each and began holding an ACC Championship Game at the conclusion of the regular football season to determine the conference champion. Clemson won its first outright ACC Atlantic Division championship in 2009. In 2012 and 2016, Clemson was co-champion of the Atlantic Division. On August 18, 2011, Georgia Tech vacated their 2009 ACC Championship Game victory over Clemson due to NCAA violations. The game is considered by the NCAA and ACC to have no winner.

Year Coach Division championship Opponent CG result
2009 Dabo Swinney ACC Atlantic Georgia Tech L 34–39 (vacated)
2011 Virginia Tech W 38–10
2015 North Carolina W 45–37
2016 Virginia Tech W 42–35
2017 Miami W 38–3
2018 Pittsburgh W 42–10
2019 Virginia W 62–17
2022 North Carolina W 39–10

Playoffs

Clemson was selected as the one seed in the second College Football Playoff and defeated the fourth seed Oklahoma on December 31, 2015, in the 2015 Orange Bowl. They lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the championship game on January 11, 2016. Clemson was selected to the third College Football Playoff as the second seed and defeated the third seed Ohio State on December 31, 2016, in the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. The Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship games in both 2017 and 2019. Clemson has a 6–4 record in playoff games through the 2019 season.

Year Seed Opponent Round Result Notes
2015 1 No. 4 Oklahoma Semi-finals – Orange Bowl W 37–17 notes
No. 2 Alabama Final – CFP National Championship Game L 40–45 notes
2016 2 No. 3 Ohio State Semi-finals – Fiesta Bowl W 31–0 notes
No. 1 Alabama Final – CFP National Championship Game W 35–31 notes
2017 1 No. 4 Alabama Semi-finals – Sugar Bowl L 6–24 notes
2018 2 No. 3 Notre Dame Semi-finals – Cotton Bowl W 30–3 notes
No. 1 Alabama Final – CFP National Championship Game W 44–16 notes
2019 3 No. 2 Ohio State Semi-finals – Fiesta Bowl W 29–23 notes
No. 1 LSU Final – CFP National Championship Game L 25–42 notes
2020 2 No. 3 Ohio State Semi-finals – Sugar Bowl L 28–49 notes

National polls

Clemson has ended their football season ranked 38 times in either the AP or Coaches Poll.

Clemson had 12 consecutive 10-win seasons from 2011 to 2022. Before the streak came to an end in 2023, it was the 2nd longest active streak behind Alabama with 16.

Year Record AP Poll† Coaches‡ Harris
1939 9–1–0 12 – –
1948 11–0–0 11 – –
1950 9–0–1 10 12 –
1951 7–3–0 20 – –
1956 7–2–2 19 – –
1957 7–3–0 – 18 –
1958 8–3–0 12 13 –
1959 9–2–0 11 11 –
1977 8–3–1 19 – –
1978 11–1–0 6 7 –
1981 12–0–0 1 1 –
1982 9–1–1 8 – –
1983 9–1–1 11 – –
1986 8–2–2 17 19 –
1987 10–2–0 12 10 –
1988 10–2–0 9 8 –
1989 10–2–0 12 11 –
1990 10–2–0 9 9 –
1991 9–2–1 18 17 –
1993 9–3–0 23 22 –
2000 9–3 16 14 –
2003 9–4 22 22 –
2005 8–4 21 21 23
2007 9–4 21 22 16
2009 9–5 24 – –
2011 10–4 22 22 14
2012 11–2 11 9 13
2013 11–2 8 7 11
2014 10–3 15 15 –
2015 14–1 2 2
2016 14–1 1 1
2017 12–2 4 4
2018 15–0 1 1
2019 14–1 2 2
2020 10–2 3 3
2021 10–3 14 16
2022 11–3 12 13
2023 9–4 20 20

† AP Poll began selecting the nation's Top 20 teams in 1936. Only the Top 10 teams were recognized from 1962 to 1967. The AP Poll expanded back to the Top 20 teams in 1968. In 1989, it began recognizing the Top 25 teams.


‡ UPI/Coaches Poll began selecting its Top 20 teams on a weekly basis in 1950 before expanding to the nation's Top 25 teams in 1990.

Bowl games

Main article: List of Clemson Tigers bowl games

Clemson holds a 27–23 record in bowl games through the 2022 season. This is a list of Clemson's 16 most recent bowl games.

Season Coach Bowl Date Opponent Result
2010 Dabo Swinney Meineke Car Care Bowl December 31, 2010 South Florida L 26–31
2011 Dabo Swinney Orange Bowl January 4, 2012 West Virginia L 33–70
2012 Dabo Swinney Chick-fil-A Bowl December 31, 2012 LSU W 25–24
2013 Dabo Swinney Orange Bowl January 3, 2014 Ohio State W 40–35
2014 Dabo Swinney Russell Athletic Bowl December 29, 2014 Oklahoma W 40–6
2015 Dabo Swinney Orange Bowl December 31, 2015 Oklahoma W 37–17
2015 Dabo Swinney 2016 CFP National Championship January 11, 2016 Alabama L 40–45
2016 Dabo Swinney Fiesta Bowl December 31, 2016 Ohio State W 31–0
2016 Dabo Swinney 2017 CFP National Championship January 9, 2017 Alabama W 35–31
2017 Dabo Swinney Sugar Bowl January 1, 2018 Alabama L 6–24
2018 Dabo Swinney Cotton Bowl December 29, 2018 Notre Dame W 30–3
2018 Dabo Swinney 2019 CFP National Championship January 7, 2019 Alabama W 44–16
2019 Dabo Swinney Fiesta Bowl December 28, 2019 Ohio State W 29–23
2019 Dabo Swinney 2020 CFP National Championship January 13, 2020 LSU L 25–42
2020 Dabo Swinney Sugar Bowl January 1, 2021 Ohio State L 28–49
2021 Dabo Swinney Cheez-It Bowl December 29, 2021 Iowa State W 20–13
2022 Dabo Swinney Orange Bowl December 30, 2022 Tennessee L 14–31
2023 Dabo Swinney Gator Bowl December 29, 2023 Kentucky W 38–35

Head coaches

Main article: List of Clemson Tigers head football coaches
Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1896–1899 Walter M Riggs 2 6–3 .667
1897 William M. Williams 1 2–2 .500
1898 John A. Penton 1 3–1 .750
1900–1903 John W. Heisman 4 19–3–2 .833
1904 Shack Shealy 1 3–3–1 .500
1905 Edward B. "Eddie" Cochems 1 3–2–1 .583
1906–1915 Bob Williams 5 22–14–6 .595
1907 Frank J. Shaughnessy 1 4–4–0 .500
1908 Stein Stone 1 1–6–0 .143
1910–1912 Frank M. Dobson 3 11–12–1 .479
1916 Wayne Hart 1 3–6 .333
1917–1920 Edward A. Donahue 4 21–12–3 .625
1921–1922 Edward J. "Doc" Stewart 2 6–10–2 .389
1923–1926 Bud Saunders 4 10–22–1 .318
1927–1930 Josh C. Cody 4 29–11–1 .720
1931–1939 Jess C. Neely 9 43–35–7 .547
1940–1969 Frank Howard 30 165–118–12 .580
1970–1972 Hootie Ingram 3 12–21 .364
1973–1976 Jimmy "Red" Parker 4 17–25–2 .409
1977–1978 Charley Pell 2 18–4–1 .804
1978–1989 Danny Ford 12 96–29–4 .760
1990–1993 Ken Hatfield 4 32–13–1 .707
1993–1998 Tommy West 6 31–28 .525
1999–2008 Tommy Bowden 10 72–45 .615
2008–current Dabo Swinney 14 170–44 .798

Coaching staff

Clemson Tigers
Name Position Consecutive season at Clemson in current position Previous position
Garrett Riley Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks 1st TCU – Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks (2021–2022)
Wes Goodwin Defensive coordinator / linebackers 2nd Clemson – Senior defensive assistant (2018–2021)
Mickey Conn Co–defensive coordinator / safeties 2nd Clemson – Safeties / special teams coordinator (2021)
Michael Reed Special teams coordinator / cornerbacks 2nd Clemson – Defensive backs (2013–2021)
Matt Luke Offensive line 1st
Tyler Grisham Wide receivers 4th Clemson – Offensive analyst (2016–2019)
C. J. Spiller Running backs 3rd Clemson – Graduate intern (2020)
Kyle Richardson Tight ends / passing game coordinator 2nd Clemson – Senior offensive assistant (2016–2021)
Lemanski Hall Defensive ends 6th Clemson – Senior defensive analyst (2017)
Nick Eason Defensive tackles / run game coordinator 2nd Auburn – Defensive line (2021)
Joey Batson Director of football strength & conditioning 27th Furman – Director of strength training (1996)
Reference:

Clemson traditions

  • Howard's Rock In the early 1960s, the rock was given to then head coach Frank Howard by a friend, Samuel Columbus Jones (Clemson Class of 1919). It was presented to Howard by Jones, saying "Here's a rock from Death Valley, California, to Death Valley, South Carolina." Howard didn't think anything else about the rock and it was used as a door stop in his office for several years. In September 1966, while cleaning out his office, Howard noticed the rock and told IPTAY executive director Gene Willimon, "Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch...do something with it, but get it out of my office." Willimon had the rock placed on a pedestal at the top of the east endzone hill that the team ran down to enter the field for games. On September 24, 1966, the first time Clemson players ran by the rock, they beat conference rival Virginia, 40–35. Howard, seizing on the motivational potential of "The Rock", told his players, "Give me 110% or keep your filthy hands off of my rock." The team started rubbing the Rock for the first game of 1967, which was a 23–6 waxing of ACC foe Wake Forest.
As a result, it is now a tradition for the Clemson Army ROTC to protect the Rock for the 24 hours prior to the Clemson-South Carolina game when held in Death Valley. ROTC cadets keep a steady drum cadence around the rock prior to the game, which can be heard across the campus. Part of the tradition comes after unknown parties vandalized the Rock prior to the 1992 South Carolina-Clemson game. On June 2, 2013, Howard's Rock was again vandalized when the case containing it was broken and a portion of the rock was removed by an apparent fan of the Tigers, who was eventually arrested following a police investigation.
  • Gathering at the Paw One of the most criticized and misunderstood traditions in all of college football is Clemson's "Gathering At The Paw." After every home football game, fans are allowed to come onto the field to sing the alma mater, and gather around the center of the field. While many say it's "rushing" the field, in truth it's more of a gathering as there is a clock that tells fans when they can come onto the field. There is time given for players and coaches to get off of the field. It is done after every home game, win or lose.
  • Running Down the Hill Probably the most highly publicized tradition of the Clemson Tigers football team is the entrance, which Brent Musburger referred to as "The Most Exciting 25 seconds in College Football." Running down "The Hill" originally started out of practicality. Before the west stands were built, the football team dressed across the street at Fike Field House and ran from there to the gate and down the hill onto the field. Now, after exiting the stadium on the west side, the players load into buses which, escorted by police officers, make their way around the stadium to the east side where The Hill is located. This scene is shown on the JumboTron inside the stadium. When the buses arrive at the east side the players get out and gather at the top of the hill and stand around Howard's Rock; once most of the players are out of the buses and ready to go a cannon sounds; the band begins to play Tiger Rag and the players make their way down the hill. The spelling out of C-L-E-M-S-O-N during this Tiger Rag is one of, if not the, loudest times it will be spelled out during the game.
  • Ring of Honor Created in 1994, the Ring of Honor is the highest award given to former coaches, players, and other individuals who made a direct impact on the football program.
  • The Graveyard The Graveyard is a mock cemetery near the football practice fields that features tombstones commemorating Clemson's victories over ranked opponents on the road.
  • First Friday Parade The Clemson football season kicks off each year with the annual First Friday Parade. The once a year event takes place on the Friday afternoon prior to the first home football game. Floats from various fraternities and sororities and other campus organizations are represented in the parade that rolls down main street in Clemson. The parade culminates at the Amphitheater in the middle of campus where the first Pep Rally of the year takes place. The Grand Marshal of the Parade is featured at the Pep Rally. Recent Grand Marshals have ranged from current PGA professional Dillard Pruitt, to College Football Hall of Fame legends Jess Neely and Frank Howard, to noted television announcers Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian.
  • Tailgating On October 15, 2012, Southern Living named Clemson the South's best tailgate.
  • Military Appreciation Game This honors Clemson's history as a military school. The team wears purple uniforms (their secondary color) for the annual Military Appreciation Game.

Rivalries

Alabama

Main article: Alabama–Clemson football rivalry

The two southern schools have long, decorated histories in the sport of college football. They first met on the football field on November 29, 1900. Clemson won the inaugural matchup by a score of 35–0. The Crimson Tide and Tigers met again in 1904 and 1905, with Clemson winning both games. Beginning with the next meeting between the two squads in 1909, Alabama won the next thirteen matchups against Clemson. The Tide posted the biggest margin of victory in the rivalry in 1931, beating the Tigers by a margin of 74–7. In the first seven games of Alabama's 13-game streak, Clemson only score seven total points and was shut out in six of the seven games. After a 56–0 shutout Alabama victory in 1975, the squads didn't meet again until 2008, when they squared off on opening weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. The Tide emerged victorious with a 34–10 victory.

The last four matchups between the squads have had national championship implications and have greatly re-intensified the rivalry. The teams squared off in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship in Glendale, Arizona, resulting in Alabama emerging with a thrilling 45–40 victory. The next year, the teams again found themselves doing battle in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa, Florida, with Clemson emerging with a last-second 35–31 victory and their first win over the Crimson Tide since 1905. Once again the teams met in the 2018 Sugar Bowl semifinal in New Orleans, Louisiana with a trip to the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game on the line. Alabama won by a score of 24–6 following two costly Clemson interceptions in the second half. Their most recent meeting was in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. This time, Clemson dismantled the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide in a 44–16 rout to win its third national title.

Alabama leads the series 14–5 through the 2023 season.

Auburn

Main article: Auburn–Clemson football rivalry

These old rivals (which are often called sister schools) first played in 1899, but until 2010, had not faced each other in the regular season since 1971. Along with snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Tigers of the Plains, Clemson also snapped Auburn's 17-game winning streak coming off of the 2009–2011 seasons after a home-and-home series in the 2010–11 seasons. The Georgia Dome then hosted the Auburn–Clemson rivalry the following year in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Clemson defeated Auburn 26–19 riding on a 231-yard performance by Andre Ellington. This game was notable due to Sammy Watkins' absence, having been suspended the first two games due to a drug-related arrest in May 2012. Auburn leads the overall series 34–15–2 through the 2018 season.

Boston College

Main article: O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy

The O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy was created in 2008 by the Boston College Gridiron Club to honor the tradition at both schools and to honor the legacy of Charlie O'Rourke and Banks McFadden, who played during the leather helmet era. The club plans to make this an annual presentation. Clemson first met Boston College on the football field in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic, the first ever bowl game for the Tigers and Eagles. Over the next 43 years, the teams met a total of 14 times. In 2005, Boston College joined the ACC and the Atlantic Division. Since then, the game has been played on an annual basis with Clemson winning the last 11 meetings. As of 2022 the Tigers lead the series 21–9–2.

Florida State

Main article: Clemson–Florida State football rivalry

Between 1999 and 2007 the ACC Atlantic Division matchup between Clemson and Florida State was referred to as the "Bowden Bowl" to reflect the father-son head coach matchup between Bobby Bowden (Father, FSU) and Tommy Bowden (Son, Clemson). Their first meeting, in 1999, was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby Bowden won the first four matchups extending FSU's winning streak over Clemson to 11 dating back to 1992. Since 2003, Clemson is 11–6, including a 26–10 win in Clemson over then-No. 3 FSU. Also during this time the Tigers recorded a 27–20 win in Tallahassee in 2006 which broke a 17-year losing streak in Doak Campbell Stadium. 2007 was the last Bowden Bowl game as Tommy resigned as head coach in October 2008. No. 3 Clemson pulled off a thriller in Tallahassee in 2016, 37–34, over the No. 12-ranked Seminoles. In 2018, No. 2 Clemson defeated Florida State in Tallahassee 59–10, which tied the Seminoles' worst loss margin in history. This marked a 2nd time the Tigers have beaten the Seminoles by more than 17-points. Clemson did it again in 2019, beating FSU 45–14. FSU has defeated Clemson by more than 17-points nine times. The most lopsided contest occurred in 1993, with the FSU squad winning 57–0. As of 2022, Florida State leads the overall series 20–15. Before the dissolution of divisions in ACC Football as of 2023, the annual Clemson-Florida State game often decided which team would represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship. However, under the ACC's new scheduling system, Clemson and Florida State are designated as permanent rivals and will continue to compete for the title every year. Because of the new ACC scheduling system, there is a chance these rivals could face each other a second time in the ACC Championship.

Georgia

Main article: Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

The Bulldogs and the Tigers have played each other 64 times beginning in 1897, with the 64th meeting played in 2014. Clemson's only regular-season losses of the 1978, 1982, and 1991 campaigns all came at the hands of Georgia "between the hedges", whereas Georgia's only regular-season setback during the three years of the Herschel Walker era came in Death Valley during Danny Ford's 1981 national championship run.

During the two programs' simultaneous glory days of the early 1980s, no rivalry in all of college football was more important at the national level. The Bulldogs and Tigers played each other every season from 1973 to 1987, with Scott Woerner's dramatic returns in 1980 and the nine turnovers forced by the Tigers in 1981 effectively settling the eventual national champion. No rivalry of that period was more competitive, as evidenced by the critical 11th-hour field goals kicked by Kevin Butler in 1984 and by David Treadwell more than once later in the decade. Despite blowouts in 1990 by the Tigers and in 1994 and 2003 by the Bulldogs, the series typically has remained very competitive with evenly matched games. Most recently, Georgia defeated Clemson 10–3 in the 2021 Duke's Mayo Classic with neither team scoring an offensive touchdown; Georgia went on to win the national title in 2021. The Bulldogs maintains a 43–18–4 lead in the series.

Georgia Tech

Main article: Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry

Clemson's rivalry with Georgia Tech dates to 1898 with the first game being played in Augusta, Georgia. Notably, both programs share the privilege of having John Heisman as a former coach. It was played in Atlanta for 44 of the first 47 match-ups, until Georgia Tech joined the ACC. When the Yellowjackets joined the ACC in 1978, the series moved to a more traditional home-and-home setup beginning with the 1983 game. When the ACC expanded to 12 teams and split into two divisions in 2005, Clemson and Georgia Tech were placed in opposite divisions but were designated permanent cross-divisional rivals so that the series may continue uninterrupted. In the new system without divisions, they remain as such. The two schools are 127 miles apart and connected to each other by Interstate 85. This distance is slightly closer than that between Clemson and traditional rival South Carolina (137 miles). Georgia Tech leads the series 50–35–2 with Clemson winning the last 8 in a row.

NC State

Main article: Textile Bowl

The yearly conference and divisional match-up with NC State is known as the Textile Bowl for the schools' similar missions in research and development for the textile industry in the Carolinas. The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1899. Clemson has won 18 out of 23 contests since 2000. It is a particularly bitter rivalry amongst fans and students of both schools, even though it is not as competitive as the vitriol would suggest. Clemson holds a 60–30–1 series advantage through the 2023 season. NC State has won 2 out of the last 3 games in the rivalry.

South Carolina

Main article: Clemson–South Carolina rivalry

The Clemson–South Carolina rivalry, which dates back to 1896, is the largest annual sporting event in terms of ticket sales in the state of South Carolina. From 1896 to 1959, the Clemson–South Carolina game was played on the fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina and was referred to as "Big Thursday." Beginning in 1960, an alternating-site format was implemented using both teams' home stadiums. The annual game has since been designated "The Palmetto Bowl." The last eight contests between the programs have been nationally televised (4 on ESPN, 4 on ESPN2). Clemson holds a commanding 73–43-4 lead in the series through the 2022 season. It is often considered one of the most heated rivalries in all of college football, on a similar level to the Auburn-Alabama and Ohio State-Michigan rivalries, respectively.

Individual award winners

See also: Clemson Tigers football statistical leaders

College Football Hall of Fame inductees

In 1951, the College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Indiana. Clemson has had 3 players and 4 former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Name Years Position Inducted Ref.
John Heisman 1900–1903 Head coach 1954
Banks McFadden 1937–1939 RB 1959
Jess Neely 1931–1939 Head coach 1971
Frank Howard 1940–1969 Head coach 1989
Terry Kinard 1978–1982 S 2001
Jeff Davis 1978–1981 LB 2007
Danny Ford 1978–1989 Head coach 2017
C. J. Spiller 2006–2009 Running back 2021

Retired numbers

See also: List of NCAA football retired numbers
Clemson Tigers retired numbers
No. Player Pos. Tenure Year retired Ref.
4 Steve Fuller 1975–1978 QB 1979
28 C. J. Spiller 2006–2009 RB 2010
66 Banks McFadden 1937–1939 HB 1987
Notes
  1. No. 4 was brought out of retirement in 2014 to be worn by quarterback Deshaun Watson.
  2. Number 28 was brought out of retirement in 2016 to be worn by running back Tavien Feaster, with Spiller's blessing.
  3. McFadden's has also his #23 retired in Clemson's basketball.

National award winners

  • CBS/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year
Terry Kinard (1982)
Da'Quan Bowers (2010)
Clelin Ferrell (2018)
Da'Quan Bowers (2010)
Dwayne Allen (2011)
Sammy Watkins (2011)
Trevor Lawrence (2018)
Deshaun Watson (2015)
Trevor Lawrence (2018)
Deshaun Watson (2015, 2016)
Deshaun Watson (2015, 2016)
Deshaun Watson (2016)
  • Bobby Bowden Trophy
Deshaun Watson (2016)
Hunter Renfrow (2018)
Deshaun Watson (2016)
Ben Boulware (2016)
Christian Wilkins (2017)
Christian Wilkins (2018)
Hunter Renfrow (2018)
Isaiah Simmons (2019)

National coaching awards

Danny Ford (1981)
Dabo Swinney (2015)
Chad Morris (2013)
Dan Brooks (2016)
Dabo Swinney (2015)
Dabo Swinney (2011)
Brent Venables (2016)
Tony Elliott (2017)
  • Grant Teaff Award
Dabo Swinney (2014)
Dabo Swinney (2015)
Danny Ford (1981)
Dabo Swinney (2015, 2016, 2018)
Dabo Swinney (2015)
Dabo Swinney (2015)
Dabo Swinney (2015)
Danny Ford (1981)
Dabo Swinney (2018)

Consensus All-Americans

See also: College Football All-America Team

The NCAA recognizes All-Americans selected by the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), The Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) to determine if a player is regarded as a Consensus or Unanimous All-American. To be selected a Consensus All-American, a player must be chosen to the first team on at least three of the five official selectors as recognized by the NCAA. If a player is named an All-American by all five organizations, he is recognized as a Unanimous All-America. Clemson players have been honored 28 times as Consensus All-Americans, and 6 times as Unanimous All-Americas.

Year(s) Name Number Position
1967 Harry Olszewski 51 G
1974 Bennie Cunningham 85 TE
1979 Jim Stuckey 83 DL
1981 Jeff Davis 45 LB
1981–1982† Terry Kinard 43 DB
1983 William Perry 66 DL
1986 Terrence Flagler 33 RB
1987 David Treadwell 18 PK
1988 Donnell Woolford 20 DB
1990 Stacy Long 67 OL
1991 Jeb Flesch 59 OL
1991 Levon Kirkland 44 LB
1993 Stacy Seegars 79 OL
1997 Anthony Simmons 41 LB
2000 Keith Adams 43 LB
2005 Tye Hill 8 DB
2006† Gaines Adams 93 DL
2009† C. J. Spiller 28 KR/AP
2010† Da'Quan Bowers 93 DL
2011 Dwayne Allen 83 TE
2013–2014 Vic Beasley 3 DL
2015 Deshaun Watson 4 QB
2015 Shaq Lawson 90 DL
2018 Clelin Ferrell 99 DL
2018 Mitch Hyatt 75 OL
2018† Christian Wilkins 42 DL
2019† Isaiah Simmons 11 LB
2019 John Simpson 74 OL
2020 Travis Etienne 9 AP

† Unanimous All-American

Atlantic Coast Conference awards

Buddy Gore (1967)
Steve Fuller (1977, 1978)
Jeff Davis (1981)
William Perry (1984)
Michael Dean Perry (1987)
C. J. Spiller (2009)
Tajh Boyd (2012)
Deshaun Watson (2015)
Travis Etienne (2018, 2019)
Trevor Lawrence (2020)
Frank Howard (1958, 1966)
Red Parker (1974)
Charley Pell (1977, 1978)
Danny Ford (1981)
Tommy Bowden (1999, 2003)
Dabo Swinney (2015, 2018)
C. J. Spiller (2009)
Tajh Boyd (2012)
Deshaun Watson (2015)
Travis Etienne (2018, 2019)
Trevor Lawrence (2020)
Keith Adams (1999)
Leroy Hill (2004)
Gaines Adams (2006)
Da'Quan Bowers (2010)
Vic Beasley (2014)
Ben Boulware (2016)
Clelin Ferrell (2018)
Isaiah Simmons (2019)
Chuck McSwain (1979)
Terry Allen (1987)
Ronald Williams (1990)
Anthony Simmons (1995)
James Davis (2005)
Sammy Watkins (2011)
Trevor Lawrence (2018)
Sammy Watkins (2011)
Trevor Lawrence (2018)
Dexter Lawrence (2016)
Bryan Bresee (2020)
Andrew Mukuba (2021)
Doug Cline (1959)
Wayne Mass (1966)
Harry Olszewski (1967)
Joe Bostic (1977)
Lee Nanney (1981)
James Farr (1983)
John Phillips (1987)
Mitch Hyatt (2017, 2018)
Jordan McFadden (2022)
Rex Varn (1978)
Jack Cain (1980)
Ray Williams (1986)
Warren Forney (1995)
Justyn Ross (2021)
Ed Glenn (1994)
Kyle Young (2001)
Christian Wilkins (2018)

Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary football team

On July 23, 2002, in celebration of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 50th Anniversary, a 120-member blue ribbon committee selected the Top 50 football players in ACC history. Clemson led all conference schools with the most players selected to the Golden Anniversary team. Each of Clemson's honorees are All-Americans and former NFL players. The nine selectees from Clemson are:

NFL players

Source ESPN

All-time record vs. current ACC teams

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First meeting Last meeting
Boston College 21 9 2 .688 Won 11 1940 2022
California 0 1 0 .000 Lost 1 1991 1991
Duke 37 17 1 .682 Lost 1 1934 2023
Florida State 16 21 0 .432 Won 1 1970 2024
Georgia Tech 36 50 2 .420 Won 9 1898 2023
Louisville 8 1 0 .889 Lost 1 2014 2024
Miami 7 7 0 .500 Lost 1 1945 2023
North Carolina 40 19 1 .675 Won 6 1897 2023
NC State 61 30 1 .668 Won 1 1899 2024
Notre Dame 5 3 0 .625 Won 1 1977 2023
Pittsburgh 3 3 0 .400 Won 1 1977 2024
SMU 0 0 0 – – – –
Stanford 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 1986 2024
Syracuse 10 2 0 .833 Won 6 1995 2023
Virginia 41 8 1 .830 Won 5 1955 2024
Virginia Tech 24 12 1 .653 Won 7 1900 2024
Wake Forest 72 17 1 .806 Won 16 1933 2024
Totals 371 197 10 .651

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACC temporarily added Notre Dame as a member for just the 2020 season. Wins and losses to Notre Dame in 2020 count toward standings and all-time records.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 3, 2023.

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
vs Georgia (Aflac Kickoff Game) vs LSU at LSU vs Wofford vs Troy vs Georgia at Georgia
vs Appalachian State vs Troy vs Georgia Southern at South Carolina vs South Carolina at South Carolina vs South Carolina
vs The Citadel vs Furman vs Charleston Southern vs Notre Dame at Notre Dame
vs South Carolina at South Carolina vs South Carolina vs The Citadel
2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037
vs Notre Dame at Georgia vs Georgia vs South Carolina vs Oklahoma at Oklahoma at South Carolina
at South Carolina vs South Carolina at South Carolina at Notre Dame at South Carolina vs South Carolina vs Notre Dame

Clemson vs. in-state NCAA Division I teams

School Record Percentage Streak First meeting Last meeting
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 1–0 1.000 Won 1 2009 2009
Furman Paladins 44–10–4 .793 Won 31 1896 2022
Presbyterian Blue Hose 33–3–4 .875 Won 15 1916 2010
South Carolina Gamecocks 73–43–4 .630 Won 1 1896 2023
South Carolina State Bulldogs 5–0 1.000 Won 5 2008 2021
The Citadel Bulldogs 33–5–1 .859 Won 18 1909 2020
Wofford Terriers 13–3 .813 Won 6 1896 2019

Recruiting

Clemson Tigers Football Rivals.com team recruitment rankings under head coach Dabo Swinney:

Year National rank Commits
2024 10th 22
2023 10th 22
2023 10th 26
2022 10th 20
2021 6th 19
2020 2nd 23
2019 9th 28
2018 8th 17
2017 22nd 14
2016 6th 22
2015 4th 25
2014 13th 22
2013 14th 23
2012 14th 20
2011 8th 29
2010 19th 24
2009 37th 12

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Further reading

  • Bob Bradley; Sam Blackman; Chuck Kriese (1999). Clemson: Where the Tigers Play – The History of Clemson University Athletics. Sports Publishing. ISBN 1-58261-369-9.

Seifried, C.S., Soles, M., Downs, B.J., & Bolton, C. (2019). The Build-up to Death Valley: Clemson Football Facilities Before Memorial Stadium. South Carolina Historical Magazine, 120(4), 234-259.

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