Clemson and Alabama have had their fair share of prominent athletic clashes in recent years.
The Tigers and Crimson Tide met in the 2016 national championship, which Alabama won 45-40. The next year, they met again in the national championship, with the Tigers winning 35-31. The year after that saw Alabama shut down Clemson 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl. And for the fourth meeting in as many years, Clemson bludgeoned Alabama 44-16 in the 2019 national championship to claim a second title.
Three national championships and another trip to the big game between those four meetings, all of which have happened in the past decade. It's safe to say there's no love lost between these two programs.
But this is March, and the programs' men's basketball teams are now in the headlines. No. 4 Alabama beat No. 1 North Carolina and No. 6 Clemson topped No. 2 Arizona to each punch tickets to the Elite Eight. The programs will face off Saturday with the West Region title on the line and a spot in the Final Four.
How have these two teams fared against one another in basketball? Here's what you need to know.
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Clemson vs. Alabama basketball history
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Feb. 28, 1930 | Alabama | 31-22 |
| Dec. 19, 1957 | Alabama | 78-75 |
| Dec. 17, 1965 | Clemson | 76-62 |
| Dec. 19, 1968 | Clemson | 96-74 |
| Dec. 17, 1969 | Clemson | 104-95 |
| Nov. 26, 1989 | Alabama | 57-48 |
| Jan. 1, 2008 | Clemson | 87-61 |
| Jan. 6, 2009 | Clemson | 66-59 |
| Dec. 13, 2015 | Alabama | 51-50 |
| Dec. 18, 2016 | Clemson | 67-54 |
| Dec. 12, 2020 | Clemson | 64-56 |
| Nov. 28, 2023 | Clemson | 85-77 |
These two teams have met 12 times dating back to their first matchup on Feb. 28, 1930. In those meetings, Clemson holds the advantage 8-4.
Clemson vs. Alabama games have generally been close. Eight of the matchups have been decided by single digits, while only two were settled with a differential of over 20 points. Overall, the average win has been by 10.8 points.
The two most recently played each other on Nov. 28 in Tuscaloosa and delivered a thriller, being separated by just a point at the half. The Tigers wound up getting 21 points from PJ Hall and 16 from Joseph Girard III, which helped propel Clemson past Alabama, which received 23 from Mark Sears and 16 from Aaron Estrada.
Alabama and Clemson also played on Dec. 12, 2020, in the Holiday Hoopsgiving. The Tigers had a well-rounded performance, with Al-Amir Dawes leading the team with 10 points while Herb Jones dropped 17 for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide last picked up a win on Dec. 13, 2015, when Alabama received 23 points from Retin Obasohan and held on late against the Tigers to win 51-50.
MORE: Meet Grant Nelson, Alabama's unlikely March Madness hero
How many times has Clemson made it to the Final Four?
The Tigers have never reached the Final Four.
In 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, the Tigers have a record of 14-13. Clemson has only reached the Elite Eight once in program history, which came back in 1980. The No. 6 Tigers advanced to the West regional final, where it faced No. 8 UCLA. The Bruins won the matchup 85-74 to move to the Final Four.
MORE: Where is Clemson University? Tigers reach first Elite Eight since 1980
How many times has Alabama made it to the Final Four?
The Crimson Tide have never reached the Final Four.
Alabama has made 25 NCAA Tournament appearances and has an all-time record of 28-24. The 2024 NCAA Tournament run marked only the second time in program history the Crimson Tide even reached the Elite Eight. The last time Alabama advanced to this round was 2004, when No. 8 Alabama lost 87-71 to No. 2 Connecticut.
