College football is not the same without playing and defeating your rival each season. There is certainly satisfaction in beating the adversary in a heated contest. Clemson football has had many notable opponents throughout the years. If you are new to Tigertown, there are six important teams to know that make Tiger fans gain a little extra competitive edge on Saturdays.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Clemson’s biggest rival is South Carolina. All of the other teams on this list cannot match the thrill of beating the Gamecocks to those that wear orange and purple. While Clemson has dominated the series in recent history, including seven straight victories from 2014 to 2021, the rivalry has become more competitive since the arrival of the Gamecocks’ head coach Shane Beamer. Under Beamer, the Tigers’ in-state foe has successfully won two straight games in Death Valley.
Florida State Seminoles
Outside of South Carolina, Florida State is another one of Clemson’s biggest rivals. While this matchup is one the Tigers have controlled as of late, that has not always been the case. During the early 2000s, under Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles were an absolute juggernaut. Even under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, the school proved to be a tough opponent for Clemson each year.
Historically, Clemson trails in the all-time series, 21-17. The matchup has often been a deciding factor in which team plays in the ACC Championship game. Therefore, this game is not just about bragging rights; it is almost always the inside track to play in Charlotte in December.
NC State Wolfpack
The infamous Textile Bowl between Clemson and NC State has been played since 1899. While the Tigers have other historic ACC rivals, such as Georgia Tech and Florida State, the Wolfpack have been one of Clemson’s most common foes, with 89 matchups in the rivalry’s history. Though the series was not played last season, the Wolfpack has had recent success against the Tigers, notching two home wins in 2021 and 2023.
In 2022, ESPN’s College Gameday was present for a Top 10 clash between the two schools, a first in the series, which culminated with a Clemson win. While NC State may not be a national powerhouse, the team does know how to compete in an improved ACC.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Tigers and Bulldogs have played each other since 1897. While Georgia has dominated the series, earning 44 wins in 66 contests, the Tigers have had historical wins over the Bulldogs. Take the two wins in Death Valley in 1981 and 2013. In these games, Clemson played valiantly to upset Georgia, who was ranked higher in both matchups.
Furthermore, the Georgia campus is less than 70 miles away from the Clemson campus. There have been many recruiting battles between the two schools for elite high school talent. In turn, this gives this rivalry a bit more juice.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Clemson and Ohio State have only ever played at neutral sites six times in the postseason. The first matchup between these two bluebloods came in the 1978 Gator Bowl. After Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter was intercepted by Clemson’s Charlie Bauman. After the play, the head coach for the Buckeyes, Woody Hayes proceeded to punch Bauman. This in turn caused Hayes to be fired and the Tigers won the game 17-15.
The rest of the meetings between the two schools came in the 2012 BCS Orange Bowl, as well as three meetings in the CFP. Clemson has only lost to Ohio State once in the 2020 season. Make no mistake these teams play one another with grit each meeting.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has been a national power in college football and in the SEC for decades. In four straight matchups in the College Football Playoff spanning from 2015 to 2018, the Crimson Tide and the Tigers split two games.
When head coach Dabo Swinney brought Clemson football back to the national stage in 2015, it was Nick Saban who ultimately ended the 2015 Clemson team’s magical year. However, fast forward one year later, and the Tigers avenged their loss by winning the program’s second-ever national title.
When these two teams have met in recent years, it has been when greatness is on the line. These games serve as an example of what makes the sport memorable.
Clemson has a storied history in football. If you truly want to experience the magic of college football, be sure to stop by Death Valley this fall to support the Tigers.
