Dabo Swinney and Clemson have enjoyed a remarkable run in college football, playing in back-to-back national championship games and solidifying the program as one of the nation’s best.
But it hasn’t always been that way for the Tigers.
The program took a turn 17 years ago under then-first-year coach Tommy Bowden.
Conversely, Mississippi State took a different turn 17 years ago and both programs are where they are today after they crossed paths in the 1999 Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The Bulldogs defeated Clemson 17-7 in that game to finish 10-2; Clemson finished 6-6.