There haven’t been too many programs to be consensus back-to-back National Champions. Clemson football could join a short list this season.
The 2019 Clemson football team comes into the season with an opportunity to defend their National Championship, something that not many program have done in the history of CFB.
The Tigers are one of the favorites to get back to the CFB Playoff and will certainly have a chance at becoming back-to-back National Champions.
If Clemson was to pull off the feat, the Tigers would join an elite group of programs.
Since 1970, there has been just two programs to become consensus back-to-back National Champions: Nebraska (1994-95) and Alabama (2011-12).
That’s right, Clemson football fans.
There have only been two times in the last half-century in which a College Football program was named a consensus back-to-back National Champion. There were a few of circumstances in the same time period (Nebraska in 1970-71; Oklahoma in 1974-75; Alabama in 1978-79; USC 2003-04) where teams were named back-to-back National Championships, but they weren’t consensus champions.
In the history of all College Football, there have only been 13 programs (Princeton, Nebraska, Alabama, Yale, Harvard, Michigan, California, USC, Minnesota, Army, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Texas) to be back-to-back National Champions, most of which weren’t consensus and many of which happened more than a century ago.
In the modern era, the Clemson football program would really be joining an elite group that only involves Alabama and Nebraska. Even Nebraska hasn’t been consensus back-to-back champions in more than two decades.
Another championship in this season could solidify an already legendary career for Dabo Swinney and put yet another feather in his cap, as a result.
The Tigers certainly have the talent, skill and experience to repeat. It will be interesting to see if the 2019 Clemson football team can get the job done.