College football rankings: 5 best college football teams this century

3. Best college football teams this century: 2018 Clemson

Alabama does hold its own as a top college football team of the 2010s, but as the 1A to Clemson’s 1B.

Four of the six College Football Playoff National Championship Games had Clemson representation. Head coach Dabo Swinney turned this ACC school into a perennial powerhouse with no sign of slowing down. Their work began in the Deshaun Watson era, but a true freshman initiated his own legacy in South Carolina and continued this school’s momentum in 2018, which was also the Tigers’ best iteration of the century.

Swinney made the bold move of flipping to Trevor Lawrence early in the season. A talented defense held down other teams, but the offense stalled at times under Kelly Bryant. Lawrence was also the No. 1 recruit in the nation and someone the coaching staff could not sideline forever. He needed involvement, and once the change happened, Clemson soared.

30 touchdowns to just four interceptions flashed Lawrence’s precision with the football. He was accurate and worth the wait, never losing a game in his first season as the starter. 24 rushing touchdowns from Travis Etienne was an incredible supplement to the passing game, and Tee Higgins and Hunter Renfrow, who seemingly played for the Tigers for a decade, were ideal threats on the outside. This group was elite and the catalyst towards greatness.

The stellar defense can’t go by the wayside. Isaiah Simmons and Clelin Ferrell were the foundation, with pro-caliber talents surrounding them. They held opponents to 10 or fewer points nine times.

Crushing Notre Dame, 30-3, in the Cotton Bowl set Clemson up for another date with Alabama in the National Championship Game. It was a debate before the matchup of the Tigers’ youth vs. Nick Saban’s potent offense and, as always, All-American defense. However, perhaps one of the most surprising final scores of a title game this century, the Tigers won, 44-16. When do the Crimson Tide ever sit at the other end of a blowout?

2018 Clemson was elite. They are grouped with other special teams in that five-year timeframe, but Lawrence, Simmons, Ferrell and company formed something uniquely talented for that football program. It was a journey, with a surprise ending, that set them apart.