Clemson Football Accomplishments

LAST THREE YEARS

Clemson has been ranked in the top 25 of both polls for 46 straight polls, one of seven schools nationally that can make that claim. The others are Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and Stanford. It is the second longest streak of top 25 rankings in Clemson history. Clemson has been ranked in the final top 25 each of the last three years, the first time that has happened since the 1986-91 era.
Clemson has been to a BCS Bowl game two of the last three years and has beaten top 10 teams in bowl games each of the last two years. Clemson defeated seventh-ranked LSU in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl and sixth-ranked Ohio State in the 2014 Orange Bowl. Clemson is one of six schools to go to a BCS Bowl two of the last three years.
Clemson was ranked in the top 20 in each of the last 24 BCS polls, the longest streak of its kind in Clemson history. Clemson is one of just five schools that can make this claim. The others were Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon and Stanford.
Clemson has been ranked in the top 15 in every final BCS poll each of the last three years, one of six schools that can make that claim. The other schools are Alabama, Stanford, Oregon, South Carolina and Oklahoma.
Clemson has been ranked in the top 15 of the AP poll for 28 straight weeks (active streak entering 2014), the longest streak in Clemson history for top 15 rankings.
Clemson has won at least 10 games each of the last three years, the first time Clemson has done that since the 1987-90 era when Clemson had four straight 10-2 records.
Clemson is one of eight schools nationally and the only ACC school to win at least 10 games in 2011-12-13. The others are Stanford, LSU, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Northern Illinois and Alabama.
Clemson won 11 games in 2012, the most for the program since 1981. Clemson also won 11 games in 2013 and this is the first time Clemson has had back-to-back 11-win seasons.
Top 25 SEC teams have lost just 11 games to non-conference opponents the last three years. Clemson has four of the 11 wins over those top 25 SEC teams.
Clemson has at least one win over a top 10 team each of the last three years. The only other schools to do that are Alabama and Baylor.
Clemson has won 18 consecutive games against unranked teams by double digits. It is the second longest streak of its kind in the nation. Only Alabama has a longer streak with 27 straight.
Clemson has been outstanding in close games, posting a 6-0 record in games decided by seven points or less over the last three years.
Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M and Ohio State are the only four schools in the nation to have an undefeated record against unranked teams each of the last two years.
Clemson has won 22 of its last 26 games with the only losses coming to teams that were ranked in the top 12 in the nation entering the game.
Clemson has won at least six ACC games three consecutive years, the first time the program has done that since 1981-83.
Clemson ranks eighth in victories nationally over the last three years with 32. That includes eight wins over top 25 teams and five over top 10 teams. Clemson has defeated three top 10 teams in its last 14 games.
Clemson is the only school in the nation to record a win over a top 10 team in a bowl game each of the last two years. Clemson is the first ACC team to do it since Florida State did it three years in a row from 1993-95.
Clemson has had a 3000-yard passer, a 1000-yard rusher and a 1000-yard receiver each of the last three years. Clemson and Baylor are the only schools to do that each of the last three years.
Clemson offense has established 138 records on offense on a team and individual basis over the last three years.

2013

Team Accomplishments (11-2 overall, 7-1 in ACC)Ranked 7^th by USA Today, 8^th by Associated Press

Clemson ranked seventh in the final USA Today Poll, the highest ranking in any final poll for the Clemson program since the Tigers won the National Championship in 1981. It is the second straight year Clemson has been ranked in the final top 10 by USA Today, the first time Clemson has had back-to-back top 10s since 1987-88.
Clemson finished the season with an 11-2 record for the second straight year. It is the first time in school history that Clemson won at least 11 games in consecutive years.
Clemson defeated two top 10 teams this year, #5 Georgia to open the season and #6 Ohio State to end the season. It is just the second time Clemson has had two top 10 wins in the same year since 1981. Tigers also did that in 2011.
Clemson ranked in the top 10 in the nation of the AP and USA Today polls for 14 straight polls from the first poll through the November 24^th poll. That is the longest streak in Clemson history, and was the third longest streak in college football on November 24. Only Alabama and Ohio State had a longer streak.
Clemson began the season in the top 10 and finished the season in the top 10. It marked just the fifth time Clemson had done that in history, the first time in 23 years.
Clemson was 4-0 on the road this year against ACC teams, the first time since 1995 that Clemson has won all four of its league road games. Clemson won five of six games away from home overall.
Clemson had six wins over FBS teams that finished with a winning record, tied for the most in one season in Clemson history (1990).
Clemson and National Champion Florida State were the only schools in the nation to rank in the top 25 in scoring offense and scoring defense, total offense and total defense.
The Tigers defeated fifth-ranked Georgia to open the season. Combined with the Chick-fil-A Bowl win over LSU to close the 2012 season, Clemson became the first non-SEC school to defeat top 10 SEC teams in consecutive games in college football history.
Clemson completed the season ranked in the top 25 every week. It was just the seventh season in school history that Clemson was ranked in the top 25 for every week by the AP poll, but the second consecutive year Clemson had achieved the feat.
Has achieved an 11-2 record despite playing a schedule that included four games against top 10 teams. Only Tennessee (6) and Auburn (5) played more games against top 10 teams than Clemson this year.
Clemson recorded 10 wins in the regular season for just the fifth time in school history and achieved it in back to back seasons for the first time in history.
Exposure for the Clemson program reached an all-time high. The campus played host to ESPN College Gameday twice in 2013, the first school to do that since 2008.
Thirteen different players were named to an All-ACC team by either the media or the ACC coaches.

Coaching Accomplishments

Head Coach Dabo Swinney was named one of 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. It was the third year in a row and fourth in the last five he has been a finalist for that honor.
Swinney reached 50 wins as Clemson head coach in second fewest games in Clemson history. He did it in his 72^nd game.
Swinney won his 10^th game against a top 25 team when the Tigers defeated sixth ranked Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. He has now moved into third place on the Clemson coaching list for most top 25 wins, ahead of Clemson legend Frank Howard. Six of his 10 wins over ranked opponents are against top 10 teams. He is one of three coaches nationally to beat a top 10 team each of the last three years.
Swinney is the only coach in the nation to defeat a top 10 team in a bowl game in 2012 and 2013.
Only Bobby Bowden has more wins over top 10 teams in bowl games than Swinney among ACC coaches dating to the formation of the conference in 1953.
Swinney improved to seventh in ACC history in career winning percentage and stands at .689.
Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris was named National Assistant Coach of the Year by the AFCA.

Offense

The Clemson team averaged 40.2 points and 508 yards per game in total offense in 2013, just the second team in school history to achieve those levels in the same year. Clemson is one of just five schools nationally to average 40 points and 500 yards a game each of the last two years.
Clemson had had a 3000-yard passer (Tajh Boyd) a 1000-yard rusher (Rod McDowell) and a 1000-yard receiver (Sammy Watkins) this year, one of just 10 teams in the nation to do it. Clemson and Baylor are the only schools to do it three years in a row.
This Clemson team averaged 333 passing yards per game, 9^th in the nation and a Clemson record for a season.
This team set the Clemson record for 50-point games in a season with five, including a record three in a row. The Tigers finished 8^th in the nation in scoring offense.
Clemson finished 10^th in the nation in total offense with an average of 508 yards per game, the second highest average in Clemson history.
Clemson’s passing attack also featured a 164.3 passer rating, 8^th best in the nation and a 69.1 completion percentage, 6^th best in the nation.
Clemson’s fast paced offense ran 1037 plays, 13^th best in the nation. It was the second straight year Clemson ran at least 1000 plays.
Quarterback Tajh Boyd became ACC record holder for career touchdown passes (107), career touchdown responsibility (133) and career passing efficiency (155.3). He is the only quarterback in ACC history to throw at least 30 touchdown passes three consecutive years.
Boyd finishes his career with a 32-8 record, tied for the most wins by a starting quarterback in Clemson history. Eight of those wins were against top 25 teams, including five against top 10 teams. He established Clemson records for ranked wins in both areas.
Boyd was named a finalist for the Unitas Award and the Manning Award. He was a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award.
Boyd became first quarterback in ACC history with at least 10,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. He is second in ACC history in career total offense and second in career passing yards.
Boyd became just the 18^th quarterback in college football history to record 100 touchdown passes. He finished his career with 107, including five in the Discover Orange Bowl against Ohio State. He threw at least 33 touchdown passes and had at least 38 total touchdowns (including rushing) in each of his three years as a starter.
This season, Boyd was sixth in the nation in passing efficiency at 168.9, a Clemson record. He was also seventh in total touchdown passes and seventh in touchdown responsibility with 44. He had the same amount of total touchdowns as Heisman winner Jameis Winston of Florida State.
Boyd finished his career in grand style by gaining 505 yards of total offense against Ohio State, 378 passing and a career high 127 rushing. It was the second most total offense by a quarterback in a BCS bowl game. The rushing total tied for the most by a quarterback in a BCS Bowl Game.
Boyd was named National Player of the Week by the Maxwell Award for his performance in Clemson’s win over fifth-ranked Georgia.
Receiver Sammy Watkins was named a first-team All-American for the third straight year, but first Clemson football player to be a first-team All-American by at least one service for three straight years. He was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
Watkins finished with a Clemson record 101 receptions for 1464 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. He has moved into second place in ACC history in career receptions and third in career receiving yards. He set 23 Clemson records overall.
Watkins finished the season fifth in the nation in total receiving yards, 10^th in touchdown receptions and 11^th in receptions per game. The big play performer was the only receiver in the nation with a pair of 90-yard touchdown catches.
Watkins set a Clemson record with eight 100-yard receiving games this year, including 16 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the Discover Orange Bowl against Ohio State. His 16 receptions and 227 yards were Clemson single game records and Orange Bowl records. The yardage was the second highest total in a BCS bowl game.
Offensive tackle Brandon Thomas became a first-team All-ACC tackle for the second straight year. He is just the second Clemson offensive tackle to be a two-time first-team selection in the last 16 years.
Running back Roderick McDowell gained over 1000 yards, giving Clemson a 1000-yard rusher for the third straight year. McDowell averaged 6.5 yards per rush vs. top 10 teams in 2013 and had 132 yards against number-five Georgia in the season opener.

Defense

Clemson led the nation in tackles for loss with 123, a school record. The Tigers also led the nation in tackles for loss per game with 9.46.
The Tigers were second in the nation in three-and-outs per game with 6.1 and 13^th in total sacks with 38.
Ranked 24th in the nation in scoring defense at 22.2 points per game.
The Tigers ranked 25thin nation in total defense, 16th in pass defense, 13th in interceptions, 10th in turnovers forced (30), and fifth in third down conversion defense.
The Tigers had four defensive returns for touchdowns this year, most by a Clemson team since 2006.
Clemson held opposition to 14 points or less for five straight games in the first half of the season, the longest streak by a Clemson team since the first seven games of the 1981 season.
The Tigers held the nation’s leading rusher, Andre Williams of Boston College, to 70 yards in 24 attempts, 2.9 yards per rush. Third fewest yards against any team this year by Williams, who set ACC record with over 2000 yards rushing. Top 20 rusher Mike Davis of South Carolina had just 22 yards in 15 carries.
Clemson’s pass defense was outstanding, as the Tigers gave up just 200.6 yards per game through the air, 16^th best in the nation.
Defensive end Vic Beasley was named a first-team All-American by six different services. He was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award.
Beasley had the best individual stat rankings of any player on the Clemson team. The junior ranked first in the nation in sacks on the road with nine, was second in tackles for loss per game at 1.8, was third in total sacks with 13, and third in tackles for loss yardage with 133. He was also 10^th in caused fumbles. Four times this year he stripped the opposing quarterback on a sack.
Beasley’s 13 sacks rank third best in Clemson history. He also had 23 tackles for loss.
Three times Beasley was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, first Clemson player to win that award three times in a season since Philip Merling in 2007.
Linebacker Spencer Shuey, Clemson’s second leading tackler and a third-team All-ACC selection, was a semifinalist for the Lott Impact Award. He was tied for second in the nation in fumble recoveries with four.
Leading tackler Stephone Anthony had 131 stops for the year. His interception with under two minutes left, clinched Clemson’s win over Ohio State in the Discover Orange Bowl.
Defensive back Bashaud Breeland was a second-team All-ACC selection at cornerback and ranked fourth in the ACC in passes defended.
Cornerbacks Darius Robinson and Martin Jenkins had interception returns for touchdowns against South Carolina State, first time Clemson has had two pick sixes in same game since 1940.

Special Teams

Placekicker Chandler Catanzaro scored 405 career points, first in Clemson history and second in ACC history. He finished his career with 67 field goals, second in Clemson history.
Catanzaro became Clemson’s career leader in field goals of at least 40 yards and finished with 24, one more than all-time great Chris Gardocki had between 1988-90. He made 13-14 field goals this year and finished seventh in the nation in field goal percentage.
Punter Bradley Pinion had 24 punts inside the 20 and no touchbacks. He tied the Clemson record for punts inside the 20 in a season. He also had 38 touchbacks for the season, 17^th best in the nation, including six in the Discover Orange Bowl.
Wide receiver Adam Humphries averaged 10.6 yards per punt return, 24^th in the nation. He was the first Clemson player to finish in the top 25 in the nation in punt return average since 2009.