In its 20th season under head coach Frank Howard, the team compiled a 9–2 record (6–1 against conference opponents), won the ACC championship, was ranked No.
11 in the final AP and Coaches Polls, defeated TCU in the 1959 Bluebonnet Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 285 to 103.
[1][2] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Harvey White with 770 passing yards, and fullback Doug Cline with 482 rushing yards, and halfback Bill Mathis with 70 points scored (11 touchdowns, 4 extra points).
Four Clemson players were selected as first-team players on the 1959 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: Cordileone; halfback Bill Mathis; end Gary Barnes; and center Paul Snyder.