The 2015 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the

2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season The 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The regular season began on September 3, 2015 and ended on D ...

. The Tigers were led by head coach

Dabo Swinney William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney (; born November 20, 1969) is an American football coach, currently serving as the head coach at Clemson University. Swinney took over midway through the 2008 season, following the resignation of Tommy Bowden. S ...

in his seventh full year and eighth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley." Clemson competed in the Atlantic Division of the

Atlantic Coast Conference The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...

. On December 5, 2015, the Tigers won the

2015 ACC Championship Game The 2015 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game was the eleventh football championship game for the Atlantic Coast Conference. It featured the Clemson Tigers, winners of the ACC's Atlantic Division, and the North Carolina Tar Heels, the winners of the A ...

by defeating the

North Carolina Tar Heels The North Carolina Tar Heels are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the ''Tar Heel ...

, 45–37, capping their first undefeated regular season since winning the national title in 1981. Ranked No. 1 throughout the

College Football Playoff The College Football Playoff (CFP) is an annual postseason knockout invitational tournament to determine a national champion for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level ...

(CFP) rankings, Clemson defeated the No. 4

Oklahoma Sooners The Oklahoma Sooners are the athletic teams that represent the University of Oklahoma, located in Norman. The 19 men's and women's varsity teams are called the "Sooners", a reference to a nickname given to the early participants in the Land Run ...

, 37–17, in the

2015 Orange Bowl The 2015 Capital One Orange Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 31, 2015 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 82nd Orange Bowl was a College Football Playoff semifinal with the winner of the game competi ...

to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship. On January 11, 2016, the No. 2

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I as a mem ...

(13–1) defeated the No. 1 Clemson Tigers (14–0) in the 2016 national championship, 45–40. Both Clemson and Alabama finished the season 14–1.

Schedule

Clemson announced their 2015 football schedule on January 29, 2015. The 2015 schedule consisted of seven home and five away games in the regular season. The Tigers hosted ACC foes

Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classifie ...

Florida State Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...

, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest, and travelled to Louisville,

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

, NC State, and

Syracuse Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy *Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' *Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York **North Syracuse, New York *Syracuse, Indiana * Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, Miss ...

. Clemson hosted #4 seed

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

in the

Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Miami metropolitan area. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935, making it, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, the second-oldest bowl game in th ...

in the first round of the 2015-16

. The Tigers then hosted #2 seed

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

in the

2016 College Football Playoff National Championship The 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship was a bowl game that determined a national champion of NCAA Division I FBS college football for the 2015 season. It was played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Ja ...

in University of Phoenix Stadium. :Schedule source:

Roster

Recruiting class

Game summaries

Wofford

Appalachian State

Louisville

Notre Dame

Georgia Tech

Boston College

Miami (FL)

NC State

Florida State

Syracuse

Wake Forest

South Carolina

ACC Championship Game

CFP Playoff

Orange Bowl- CFP Semifinal Game

CFP Championship Game

Rankings

2016 NFL Draft

The Tigers had nine players drafted in the

2016 NFL draft The 2016 NFL Draft was the 81st annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. As in 2015, the draft took place at the Auditorium Theatre and Grant Park in Chicago. The draft beg ...

Shaq Lawson Shaquille Lawson (born June 17, 1994) is an American football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson Tigers football, Clemson, and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the ...

was picked first at 19th overall. Nine draftees is the most for Clemson since the

1983 NFL draft The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983, at the New York She ...

. It also gave the Tigers the second highest number of draftees in the 2016 NFL draft, second only to

Ohio State The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...

with 12 players selected.

Awards and honors

National Coach of the Year Awards *

: AFCA, AP, CBS Sports,

Home Depot The Home Depot, Inc., is an American multinational corporation, multinational home improvement retail corporation that sells tools, construction products, appliances, and services, including fuel and transportation rentals. Home Depot is the l ...

, Maxwell Foundation,

Paul "Bear" Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of t ...

, Phil Steele,

Sporting News The ''Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a pr ...

, Sports Illustrated,

Walter Camp Walter Chauncey Camp (April 7, 1859 – March 14, 1925) was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". Among a long list of inventions, he created the sport's line of scrimmage and the system ...

Broyles Award Finalist *DC

Brent Venables Thomas Brent Venables (born December 18, 1970) is an American football coach who is the head coach at the University of Oklahoma. He previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Clemson University from 2012 to 2021. V ...

Archie Griffin Award The Touchdown Club of Columbus was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956 by Sam B. Nicola at the request of state auditor James A. Rhodes, who later became governor of the state. Nicola served as the club's president until his death in 1993. More th ...

* Deshaun Watson

Davey O'Brien Award The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Co ...

*Deshaun Watson Manning Award *Deshaun Watson

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

Finalist *Deshaun Watson (3rd) All-Americans *QB Deshaun Watson‡: 1st Team - AP, AFCA, Athlon, FWAA, CBS Sports, ESPN, USA Today; 2nd Team - Walter Camp, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated *DE

‡: 1st Team - AP, AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp, ESPN, USA Today; 2nd Team - Athlon, CBS Sports, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated *SS

Jayron Kearse Jayron Kearse (born February 11, 1994) is an American football Safety (gridiron football position), safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson Tigers football, Clemson and was draft ...

: 1st Team - ESPN; 2nd Team - AP, Athlon, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated *TE

Jordan Leggett Jordan Kristopher Leggett (born January 31, 1995) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Clemson Tigers football, Clemson. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Early years ...

: 2nd Team - Walter Camp; 3rd Team - Athlon, Honorable Mention - Sports Illustrated *CB Mackensie Alexander: 2nd Team - Athlon; 3rd Team - AP; Honorable Mention - Sports Illustrated *K

Greg Huegel Greg Huegel is a former American football placekicker who played for the Clemson Tigers. Huegel was part of the Clemson team that defeated Alabama in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship The 2017 College Football Playoff Na ...

: 2nd Team - Sports Illustrated; Freshman Team - USA Today *LB

Ben Boulware Benjamin James Boulware (born August 7, 1994) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Clemson. Boulware signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. College career O ...

: Honorable Mention - Sports Illustrated *OT

Mitch Hyatt Mitch Hyatt (born February 6, 1997) is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Clemson. Early years A native of Sugar Hill, Georgia, Hyatt attended North Gwinnett High School, where ...

: Freshman Team - FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today *DT

Christian Wilkins Christian Wilkins (born December 20, 1995) is an American football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2019 NF ...

: Freshman Team - FWAA, Sporting News ‡ - Consensus All-Americans ACC Coach of the Year *

ACC Player of the Year * Deshaun Watson ACC Offensive Player of the Year *Deshaun Watson All-ACC: *1st Team: QB Deshaun Watson, WR

Artavis Scott Artavis Scott (born October 12, 1994) is a former American football wide receiver. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson. He is currently a graduate assistant ...

, OG Eric MacLain, DE

, DT

Carlos Watkins Carlos Watkins (born December 5, 1993) is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson Tigers football, Clemson. Early years Watkins attended Chase High S ...

, CB Mackensie Alexander *2nd Team: RB Wayne Gallman, TE

, C Jay Guillermo, LB

, LB

B. J. Goodson B.J. Goodson (born May 29, 1993) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Clemson University and was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. High school career A native of Lamar ...

, S

, K

*3rd Team: OG Tyrone Crowder, OT Joe Gore, OT

, CB

Cordrea Tankersley Cordrea Tankersley (born November 19, 1993) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He has played for the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson an ...

References

{{Atlantic Coast Conference football champions Clemson Clemson Tigers football seasons Atlantic Coast Conference football champion seasons Orange Bowl champion seasons

Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers are the American football team at Clemson University. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic C ...