The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his eighth full year and ninth overall since taking over midway through the 2008 season.

[1] After finishing the regular season with a record of 11–1, and then beating Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech in the 2016 ACC Championship game, the second-ranked Tigers advanced to the 2016 College Football Playoff semifinal played at the Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated third-ranked Ohio State 31–0.

Clemson began the year ranked second in the AP Poll and traveled to unranked historic rival Auburn to begin the season.

Clemson responded with a 75-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow, but Greg Heugel's extra point attempt missed off the upright, after which the score was 19–6 with 9:59 left in the game.

Clemson drove to the Auburn 17 yard line, but elected to go for it on 4th and 4 with 40 seconds left in the game rather than kick a field goal to potentially go up by 9 points.

Troy was awarded the ball at the 20 yard line and advanced into Clemson territory, but missed a 48-yard field goal attempt just before the half.

Early in the fourth quarter, Clemson capped off an 81-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown pass from Watson to defensive end Christian Wilkins.

After a 45-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Nick Schuessler to Diondre Overton, a Bulldog interception, and a Tiger field goal, Clemson was up 31–0 at the end of the first quarter.

In shortened quarters in the second half, Clemson added two more touchdowns via a run by Tavien Feaster and a pass from Kelly Bryant to Trevion Thompson.

The second half was mostly uneventful, with the first points coming early in the fourth quarter via a Georgia Tech two-yard touchdown run to break up shutout.

The Cardinals were led by eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson and were ranked third in the country, while Clemson had slid to fifth in the polls.

Clemson's first drive ended with a Deshaun Watson interception at their own 36 yard line, after which Lamar Jackson completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to James Quick.

Louisville added a field goal, and then, after a fumble by Clemson's Jordan Leggett, scored another touchdown, this time on a one-yard Lamar Jackson run.

The Tiger defense forced a Louisville three-and-out, and Watson led Clemson down the field again and scored a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett to take the lead with 3:14 remaining.

Deshaun Watson led a successful two-minute drill and scored the game's first touchdown via a 13-yard pass to Mike Williams just before the half to secure a 10–3 lead.

Clemson received the second half kickoff, but two plays later, Watson threw his first career pick six, returned 28 yards for a touchdown by NC State's Mike Stevens.

Clemson fumbled the ball on their next two possessions, but benefited from a missed field goal and took a 17–10 lead with a Watson touchdown run late in the third quarter.

NC State kicker Kyle Bambard lined up for the potential game-winning field goal from just 33 yards out, but missed it wide right as time expired in regulation.

NC State's possession ended on the first play when Ryan Finley threw an interception caught by Marcus Edmond in the endzone.

Dalvin Cook scored his career-high-setting fourth touchdown of the day with an eight-yard run with 3:23 remaining to claim the lead again for Florida State.

Deshaun Watson responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett, and the Tigers converted the two-point attempt to secure a 37–34 lead with 2:06 remaining.

Florida State got as far as the Clemson 34 yard line, but penalties and a sack by Christian Wilkins pushed them far out of field goal range to end the game.

Pittsburgh responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Peterman to James Conner, which was followed by another one-yard Gallman run to tie the game at 14 apiece at the end of the first quarter.

Pittsburgh drove to the Clemson 35 yard line in the final minute, but Blewitt's 53-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Dexter Lawrence.

Following the loss to Pittsburgh, Clemson traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to face Wake Forest with a chance to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division title.

Wayne Gallman punched in a one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to secure the 35–13 lead for Clemson that held until the end of the game.

Clemson defeated Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech, 42–35, to win the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second straight year.

After two Virginia Tech punts and a Deshaun Watson interception to start the second half, Clemson scored on an 89-yard drive that ended with a Wayne Gallman eight-yard run.

Down by seven points, Virginia Tech drove to the Clemson 23 yard line in the final two minutes, but a Jerod Evans pass was intercepted by Cordrea Tankersley.

On the next play, Deshaun Watson rolled to his right and found a wide-open Hunter Renfrow in the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown with just one second showing on the clock.