Clemson's home winning streak on line: Breaking down the Tigers' Death Valley dominance

Bill Bender

Clemson's home winning streak on line: Breaking down the Tigers' Death Valley dominance image

This section has been updated from a previous version.

Will the streak continue at Death Valley?

No. 5 Clemson meets No. 10 N.C. State on Saturday in a top-10 ACC showdown with College Football Playoff implications. It is a tall task for the Wolfpack knowing the Tigers are shooting for their 37th straight home victory at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers can tie Florida State (1992-2001) and Yale (1900-03, 1904-08) and inch closer to becoming just the sixth team in the AP Poll era to win 40 consecutive home games.

It is a nice stretch under coach Dabo Swinney, whose run on to the field before the game has become part of the tradition. How impressive has the streak been?

MORE: Betting trends to know for Clemson-N.C. State

When was Clemson's last home loss?

Pitt beat No. 3 Clemson 43-42 on Nov. 12, 2016. Panthers quarterback Nathan Peterman passed for 308 yards and five TDs, and Chris Blewitt kicked a 48-yard field goal with six seconds remaining.

The Tigers bounced back, however, and beat No. 1 Alabama 36-31 in the College Football Playoff championship game later that season.

How dominant is Clemson's streak?

Clemson has outscored its opponents 1,574-494 during the 38-game win streak; an average score of 41.4-13. That streak includes a 6-0 record against ranked opponents at Memorial Stadium, though just one has been ranked in the top 10.

MORE: College Football Playoff picture entering Week 5

Who have been Clemson's closest calls?

Six of those victories were by eight points or fewer, and that included the 14-6 victory against No. 13 Auburn on Sept. 9, 2017.

Clemson beat Syracuse 27-23 on Sept. 29, 2018, in a game where Chase Brice replaced an injured Trevor Lawrence and led the Tigers back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

DJ Uiagalelei also filled in for Lawrence, who tested positive for COVID-19 before the matchup with Boston College on Oct. 31, 2020. The Eagles led 28-13 at halftime, but the Tigers rallied for a 34-28 victory. Clemson also beat Boston College 19-13 on Oct. 2, 2021.

The Tigers needed a goal-line stand to beat Georgia Tech 14-8 on Sept. 18, 2021.

Clemson also subbed in backup Cade Klubnik over Uiagalelei to spark a 21-10 comeback vs. No. 14 Syracuse on Oct. 22, 2022. The Tigers ultimately won 27-21.

MORE: Picks against the spread for Week 4 Top 25 games

When was Clemson's last home loss to N.C. State?

No. 12 N.C. State beat Clemson 38-6 at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 24, 2002. The Wolfpack improved to 9-0 with that victory, which was led by future NFL quarterback Philip Rivers.

N.C. State running back T.A. McLendon rushed for 178 yards and two TDs in the victory.

What is the longest FBS home winning streak?

Miami holds the longest home winning streak. The Hurricanes won 58 straight home games from 1983-92 at the Orange Bowl. Clemson plays Miami at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 19 and could be in position to win its 40th straight home game.

Notre Dame won 38 straight home games from 1919-27, and that would be next on the Tigers’ list with a win Saturday. A look at the 10 longest home win streaks in FBS history:

RANK SCHOOL STREAK
1 Miami (1985-94) 58
2 Alabama (1963-82) 57
3 Harvard (1890-95) 56
4 Michigan (1901-07) 50
5 Nebraska (1991-98) 47
6 Washington (1908-17) 44
7 Texas (198-76) 42
8 Florida State (1995-2001) 42
9 Notre Dame (1907-18) 40
10 Oklahoma (2005-11) 39
11 Clemson (2016-) 38

Clemson's home winning streak game by game

A game-by-game look at Clemson's home winning streak, which started on Nov. 26, 2016.

DATE OPPONENT SCORE
Nov. 26, 2016 South Carolina 56-7
Sept. 2, 2017 Kent State 52-3
Sept. 9, 2017 No. 13 Auburn 14-6
Sept. 23, 2017 Boston College 34-7
Oct. 7, 2017 Wake Forest 28-14
Oct. 28, 2017 Georgia Tech 24-10
Nov. 11, 2017 Florida State 31-14
Nov. 18, 2017 The Citadel 61-3
Sept. 1, 2018 Furman 48-7
Sept. 15, 2018 Georgia Southern 38-7
Sept. 29, 2018 Syracuse 27-23
Oct. 20, 2018 No. 16 N.C. State 41-7
Nov. 3, 2018 Louisville 77-16
Nov. 17, 2018 Duke 35-6
Nov. 24, 2018 South Carolina 56-35
Aug. 29, 2019 Georgia Tech 52-14
Sept. 7, 2019 No. 12 Texas A&M 24-10
Sept. 21, 2019 Charlotte 52-10
Oct. 12, 2019 Florida State 45-14
Oct. 26, 2019 Boston College 59-7
Nov. 2, 2019 Wofford 59-14
Nov. 16, 2019 Wake Forest 52-3
Sept. 19, 2020 The Citadel 49-0
Oct. 3, 2020 Virginia 41-23
Oct. 10, 2020 No. 7 Miami 42-17
Oct. 24, 2020 Syracuse 47-21
Oct. 31, 2020 Boston College 34-28
Nov. 28, 2020 Pitt 52-17
Sept. 11, 2021 South Carolina State 49-3
Sept. 18, 2021 Georgia Tech 14-8
Oct. 2, 2021 Boston College 19-13
Oct. 30, 2021 Florida State 30-20
Nov. 13, 2021 Connecticut 44-7
Nov. 20, 2021 No. 13 Wake Forest 48-27
Sept. 10, 2022 Furman 35-12
Sept. 17, 2022 Louisiana Tech 48-20
Oct. 1, 2022 N.C. State 30-20
Oct. 22, 2022 No. 14 Syracuse 27-21

Zac Al-Khateeb contributed to this report.

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.