Rubbing the Rock
Fansided

Ranking every Clemson College Football Playoff Game of the four-team era

By John Chancey

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gets doused with sports drink in the closing second against North Carolina during the fourth quarter of the ACC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, Dec 3, 2022.Clemson Tigers Football Vs North Carolina Tar Heels Acc Championship Charlotte Nc
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gets doused with sports drink in the closing second against North Carolina during the fourth quarter of the ACC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, Dec 3, 2022.Clemson Tigers Football Vs North Carolina Tar Heels Acc Championship Charlotte Nc /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 10
Next
clemson football
clemson football /

2nd: 2018 National Championship: Clemson 44, Alabama 16

There will be differing perspectives regarding which National Championship win was the ‘best’. It’s hard to split the hairs. Both were great experiences.

The 2018 National Championship game was probably the zenith of Clemson Football during the 4-team playoff era. Not only were they dominant, and dominant over Alabama, but they were dominant over the Alabama team that a significant number of observers considered to be the best Tide team of all-time.

We didn’t have to wait long to see that Clemson wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. AJ Terrell boldly stepped in front of Tua Tagovailoa’s pass and took it back for a Pick-6. As expected, Alabama struck back quickly with a bomb to Jerry Juede.

Then Clemson responded with one of the great third-down conversions of the evening, followed by a Travis Etienne rushing touchdown.

Suddenly, Clemson led 14-7, and there were still ten minutes left in the first quarter. I remember this all seemed to be a whirlwind, but the Tigers were ahead, so I couldn’t ask for much more at that point.

By the end of the half, Clemson had intercepted Tagovailoa twice and held a 31-16 lead. I think a lot of people were stunned. Alabama fans were stunned. The pundits who didn’t think Clemson had a chance against the best Alabama team ever were stunned. Honestly, I think a lot of Clemson fans were stunned too.

Then Justyn Ross cemented his place as a Clemson legend with some ridiculous catches. The Tigers ended it with a clock-killing drive and a curtain call for the offensive starters.

It was an absolute joy.

Home/Clemson Football