Clemson Ranked 25th in Associated Press Poll

Sept. 5, 2007

Clemson, SC – Clemson is ranked 25th in the nation in the September 4 Associated Press college football rankings. The Tigers were not ranked in the preseason, but moved into the top 25 after defeating 19th ranked Florida State on Monday night. Clemson is ranked 26th in poll points in the USA Today Coaches poll.

This marks the second time in the last three years that Clemson has not been ranked in the AP preseason poll, then defeated a top 25 team in the season opener to move into the top 25 by the second week. In 2005, Clemson defeated 17th ranked Texas A&M in the season opener 25-24.

Clemson was ranked in the preseason of the AP poll in 2006 and reached a high of number-10 in the nation after a 7-1 start. Tommy Bowden’s team was ranked in the top 25 in the nation 11 weeks during the 2006 season. Clemson last appeared in the top 25 on November 19, 2006.

Clemson’s highest ranking under Tommy Bowden’s is a number four national ranking in the USA Today poll on October 22, 2000.

This is the fourth Clemson sport with a top 25 ranking in the fall. Clemson’s golf team is currently ninth in the preseason college golf poll, while the men’s soccer team is 19th and the women’s soccer ranks 20th.

Clemson’s 24-18 win over 19th ranked Florida State on Labor Day night was the fifth straight victory for the Tigers against a top 25 team. This is the first time since the 1988-89 era that Clemson has had five straight wins over top 25 teams and it is just the second time in history. The next time Clemson faces a top 25 team it will have a chance to establish a new school record for consecutive top 25 wins.

Clemson’s streak of top 25 wins dates to November 12, 2005 when Clemson defeated a 17th ranked Florida State team at home. The next week the Tigers won at 19th ranked South Carolina. The Tigers then had two top 25 wins last year, a 27-20 win at ninth ranked Florida State and a 31-7 win over 13th ranked Georgia Tech.

After a 3-14 start against top 25 teams to start his career, Bowden has now won 10 of his last 14 since 2003. Two of the losses against ranked teams since 2003 are in overtime.