As second-ranked Clemson gets set to play No. 3 Ohio State in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve, The Clemson Insider ranks all 20 of the Tigers’ bowl victories from the past.
Clemson has a rich bowl history. In fact, the Tigers’ 20 bowl-wins rank 17th in the history of college football, and their 40 bowl game appearances, including this year’s Fiesta Bowl matchup, also ranks 17th.
Clemson’s first bowl game was in the 1940 Cotton Bowl when the Tigers defeated Frank Leahy’s Boston College team, 6-3.
No. 17: 2009 Music City Bowl
Clemson 21, Kentucky 13
Clemson running back C.J. Spiller totaled 172 all-purpose yards and a rushing score in his final collegiate game to lead Clemson to a 21-13 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.
It was the Tigers’ first bowl win since 2005, ending a three-game bowl losing streak, and their 16th bowl victory.
Spiller earned game MVP honors, as he had 67 rushing yards, three catches for 58 yards, and 47 kickoff-return yards. His touchdown was the 51st of his career to set a Tiger record.
The Tiger offense was productive despite totaling just 47 offensive plays. Clemson set bowl records for yards per play (6.8) and yards per carry (5.5) in its 321-yard performance.
The Wildcats drove 61 yards on their opening possession, capped by Morgan Newton’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Chris Matthews. The Tigers answered late in the first quarter with Kyle Parker’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Ford over the middle.
Jamie Harper, who had 79 yards on eight carries, gave Clemson the lead in the second quarter on his one-yard plunge.
In the fourth quarter, Kavell Conner stripped Gene McCaskill and Jarvis Jenkins recovered at the Wildcat 19.
Three plays later, Spiller scored on an eight-yard touchdown run.
Kentucky drove 60 yards on its last drive, but Ricky Sapp tackled Newton just short of the first-down marker on fourth down at the Tiger 25. Clemson drained the final 5:27 off the clock thanks to 53 combined rushing yards by Spiller and Harper.
—Clemson Athletic Communications