Clemson Football's 1-2 starts since Tiger Illustrated went online
After beginning the season at No. 4 in the Associated Press Poll, Clemson heads into this weekend unranked following two one-score losses to LSU and Georgia Tech respectively.
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The Tigers (1-2, 0-1) have been here before, as head football coach Dabo Swinney pointed out Tuesday at his weekly news conference, though these occurrences have been few and far between since Tigerillustrated.com went online in March of 1999.
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So how many 1-2 starts has Clemson endured over the last 26 years?
Just four.
1999
Clemson began the season at 1-2 after losses to Marshall and (at) No. 8 Virginia Tech. In year one under then head coach Tommy Bowden, Clemson was the only team in the nation that season to face all three undefeated teams in college football – The Thundering Herd, the Hokies and Florida State, which went on to win the national championship. The Tigers closed the 1999 season at 6-6 with a Peach Bowl appearance, double the win total from 1998’s 3-8 mark.
2004
No. 15-ranked Clemson stumbled out of the gate in 2004 after an overtime win over Wake Forest in the season opener. The Tigers began the year at 1-2 before ultimately falling to 1-4, suffering losses to Georgia Tech, (at) Texas A&M, (at) No. 8 Florida State and (at) No. 10 Virginia. The Tigers went on to win five of their last six contests en route to a 6-5 finish.
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2014
Clemson began the 2014 season with a No. 16 ranking and a 1-2 start, dropping contests to (at) No. 12 Georgia and (at) No. 1 Florida State. The Tigers, ultimately finishing No. 1 nationally in total defense, would go on to lose just once more before closing up the campaign at 10-3 and a No. 15 ranking after blasting Oklahoma 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
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2025
With 17 returning starters from last year’s 10-win team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference and returned to the College Football Playoff, the Tigers began the season at No. 4 in the AP Poll (No. 6 in the Coaches Poll). Clemson, lined favorites in each of its first three games, dropped its season opener to LSU, now No. 3 in the AP Poll and Georgia Tech last weekend. The Yellow Jackets made their debut in the AP Poll on Sunday with a No. 18 billing.
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