This is the Thursday in March when March Madness really takes off. It is normally reserved for the NCAA Tournament, which, unfortunately, COVID-19 has taken from all of us this year.
In honor of the NCAA Tournament, The Clemson Insider has decided to do its own tournament … The Best Clemson Football Teams of All-Time Tournament. Below are what we think are the 64 best teams in Clemson’s football history.
All 25 conference championship teams are represented, all the bowl teams and teams that finished the year nationally ranked. Three of the top four seeds won a national championship–2018, 1981 and 2016–while the 2019 team is the No. 4 overall seed and the 2015 squad, which also lost in the national title game, is the best of the No. 2 seeds.
Tell us what you think. Who do you think are the best teams in Clemson history and who would truly win it all if these teams could duke it out for real on the gridiron? Later today, we will produce the winners of the Day 1 matchups and then keep you updated on TCI throughout the tournament.
Please feel free to give us your opinion and make your case for certain games and teams as we go along on the message board thread (link is here). Like our content, our message board is free to sign up and to contribute.
Clemson Football’s All-time Best Team Tournament
Trevor Lawrence (16) throws in the pocket against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2019 College Football Playoff Championship game at Levi’s Stadium. Lawrence led the Tigers to a 15-0 record in 2018, while becoming the first true freshman since 1985 to lead his team to a national championship. (Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)
West
- 2018 (15-0)
- 1950 (9-0-1)
- 2013 (11-2)
- 1988 (10-2)
- 1991 (9-2-1)
- 1959 (9-2)
- 1977 (8-3-1)
- 1930 (8-2)
- 1958 (8-3)
- 1940 (6-2-1)
- 2007 (9-4)
- 2006 (8-5)
- 1917 (6-2)
- 1935 (6-3)
- 1901 (3-1-1)
- 1914 (5-3-1)
Homer Jordan led Clemson to a win over Nebraska in the 1982 Orange Bowl, completing an undefeated season and the Tigers’ first national championship. (File photo/Clemson Athletic Communications)
South
- 1981 (12-0)
- 1948 (11-0)
- 1900 (6-0)
- 1987 (10-2)
- 1983 (9-1-1)
- 1986 (8-2-2)
- 1941 (7-2)
- 1902 (6-1)
- 1993 (9-3)
- 1995 (8-4)
- 1929 (8-3)
- 1906 (4-0-3)
- 1909 (6-3)
- 1923 (5-2-1)
- 1965 (6-4)
- 1918 (5-2)
Deshaun Watson (4) dives for the end zone against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Ronnie Harrison (15) during the fourth quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Watson led the Tigers to their first national championship in 35 years by winning the 2016 National Championship. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
East
- 2016 (14-1)
- 1978 (11-1)
- 1939 (9-1)
- 1990 (10-2)
- 1982 (9-1-1)
- 2011 (10-4)
- 1956 (7-2-2)
- 2000 (9-3)
- 1955 (7-3)
- 2005 (8-4)
- 1928 (8-3)
- 1903 (4-1-1)
- 1974 (7-4)
- 1919 (6-2-2)
- 1967 (6-4)
- 1909 (6-3)
Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) scores against LSU during the 2nd quarter of the National Championship game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans Monday, January 13, 2020. The Tigers lost to LSU in the title game, but rolled through all of its competition to get the big game in 2019. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)
Midwest
- 2019 (14-1)
- 2015 (14-1)
- 2017 (12-2)
- 2012 (11-2)
- 1989 (10-2)
- 2014 (10-3)
- 1938 (7-1-1)
- 1979 (8-4)
- 1951 (7-3)
- 2003 (9-4)
- 2009 (9-5)
- 1957 (7-3)
- 1984 (7-4)
- 1945 (6-3-1)
- 1966 (6-4)
- 1919 (6-2-2)
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