The Tigers are Cheez-It Bowl Champions. While it is not a title that will excite Clemson fans, the path from 2-2 to 10-3 should. With two losses in their first four games, the Tigers could have folded. Instead, they gutted out wins, mostly in closely-fought defensive battles, in eight of their final nine games to reach double-digit wins for the 11th consecutive season. Only Florida State (1987-2000) and Alabama (2008-present) have had longer such streaks.
It was Clemson’s defense leading the way once again. Wes Goodwin got his first win calling the defensive plays in place of the departed Coach Venables.