Fansided

Ranking the top 50 college football programs of all time

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates as he scores a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Clemson Tigers defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates as he scores a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Clemson Tigers defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Dabo Swinney has been a godsend for the Clemson Tigers over the past nine years, going 87-28 and winning two conference titles and four division championships in that time. He’s leading like one of the best coaches in college football and has won the awards to prove it.

During his tenure with the Tigers, the 47-year-old head coach has dominated the ACC, going 54-15 in conference play. Not just that, but he has strung together five straight 10-win seasons. If it weren’t for this recent run of success, it’d be hard to justify a top-25 ranking.

In the past two seasons, Swinney has gone 26-2 and has made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances with two straight ACC titles. Last season, the Tigers lost in the national title game to Alabama and they have a chance to redeem themselves this year. With another 10-win season next year, Swinney will move to second on the all-time wins leaderboard at Clemson.

Clemson has won 22 conference championships — 16 as an ACC member — and just one national title back in 1981. The Tigers also have a 20-19 bowl record and have had 25 consensus All-Americans.

Every Clemson fan needs this t-shirt.

While the Tigers have never had a Heisman Trophy winner, the man who the award is named after, John Heisman, actually coached at Clemson from 1900-03. Some big names to come through Death Valley are Jeff Davis, C.J. Spiller, Terry Kinard, Dwayne Allen, Sammy Watkins, William Perry, Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson.

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