[52] Assistant coach Dabo Swinney was named interim head coach. He had a 32–13–1 record with the Tigers and led them to three bowl games. His successor, Hootie Ingram, only compiled a 12–21 record. Preseason Preseason media poll. FSU won the game 17– 14 in front of the largest crowd in the history of Death Valley.[51]. [91], 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. The Tigers suffered a 43–42 home loss to Pitt in November, but benefited from losses by a couple of other playoff contenders on that Saturday and finished the season with three straight victories to rank No. North Carolina State and Clemson were then declared co-champions.[133]. 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. [137][failed verification] Walter Merritt Riggs can be characterized as the "Father of Clemson Football", as he brought the game with him from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now Auburn University). The Tigers' most recent ACC championships were won "five in a row" from 2015 to 2019, the latter with a 12–0 regular season and a 62–17 win over the Virginia Cavaliers. More than 150 documented violations and 69 charges were cited under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, ethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, and improper recruiting contact. [126] The two teams once again met for the title in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. However, Clemson had a sluggish start to the season culminating in a scare against North Carolina, where Clemson had to stop the Tarheels on a two-point conversion to escape Chapel Hill with a win. Eddie Cochems, a future innovator of the former pass, had just lost out to Phil King for the Wisconsin job, when he accepted to coach Clemson's 1905 team, which lost to Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, but shut out Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn, featured stars left over from Heisman like Furtick and Puss Derrick. For the rest of his life, Howard credited the 1948 team with saving his job. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers in the 2012 Orange Bowl 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. Clemson Athletic Department, "2001 Clemson Football," Keys Printing, Greenville, South Carolina, 2001, no ISBN, page 340. The Tigers have 46 bowl appearances, 20 of which are among the New Year's Six Bowls, including 9 during the "Big Four" era. Though Parker is largely credited with building and recruiting a foundation that would ultimately set the stage for much of Clemson's success in the following seasons.[33]. The reduction of scholarships could be felt, in the next two seasons as Clemson still remained motivated, posting a winning 7–4 season in 1984, and an even 6–6 campaign in 1985. [11] In 1898, John Penton led the Tigers to a 3–1 record. Seven of Howard's teams finished the year ranked in at least one final poll. This would be the Tigers' fifth straight season finishing in the top 4 for either poll. The Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship game on January 9, 2017. As the style of football evolved in the 1960s, Howard's ground game became outdated, and Clemson's gridiron fortunes declined. The teams squared off in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship in Glendale, Arizona, with Alabama emerging with a thrilling 45–40 victory.