In its second season under head coach Charley Pell, the team compiled an 11–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the ACC championship, defeated Ohio State in the 1978 Gator Bowl, was ranked No.
6 in the final AP and Coaches Polls, and outscored opponents by a total of 368 to 131.
[1][2] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
[3] The Gator Bowl victory became infamous because Ohio State's legendary head coach Woody Hayes punched Clemson player Charlie Bauman during the game on the Buckeyes sideline after a play.
The incident was caught on live television, and Hayes resigned as Ohio State head coach the next day before the team even left Jacksonville.