CLEMSON — In November, Dabo Swinney passed Frank Howard as Clemson’s all-time winningest coach. Lost in all the excitement of how the 22nd-ranked Tigers beat Kentucky in the Gator Bowl last Friday was another record Swinney broke from a Hall of Fame coach.
Swinney passed legendary Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden with his ACC-record 12th bowl victory. The 38-35 victory over the Wildcats, was Clemson’s fifth straight to close the season after starting the year 4-4.
“All I can say is that’s just who we are,” Swinney said. “I mean, these guys love who they’re with. They love where they’re at.
“We talk about it all the time. The foundation of this program is effort, attitude, belief, unshakeable belief. It’s discipline, and it’s mental and physical toughness. It’s putting your heart into what you do. Again, it’s believing no matter what.”
Swinney passing Bowden on the ACC’s all-time bowl-wins-list, was not the only record the Tigers broke in the 2023 Gator Bowl.
–Clemson broke its own mark of 13 consecutive seasons of at least one postseason win, in 13 consecutive seasons, extending the longest streak on record in major college football history.
–The Tigers (9-4) tied Yale (13 straight from 1886-98) for the fourth-most consecutive nine-win seasons in major college football history, trailing only Nebraska (33 from 1969-2001), Alabama (16 from 2008-23) and Florida State (14 from 1987-2000).
–Clemson’s 11-point deficit to start the fourth quarter, tied the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over LSU as the Tigers largest fourth-quarter comeback in Clemson bowl history.
–Clemson’s 28 points in the fourth quarter were Clemson’s most in a fourth quarter in its bowl history. It also tied for the most in a fourth quarter of any game in Clemson history, tying four such games.
–Running back Phil Mafah’s four rushing touchdowns broke the Clemson bowl record (three by Tracy Johnson vs. Penn State in the 1988 Citrus Bowl) and broke the Gator Bowl record (three set by many players). He also became the first Clemson player to rush for four touchdowns in a game since C.J. Spiller did it against Georgia Tech in the 2009 ACC Championship Game.
–Mafah, who won the game’s MVP award, is also the first Clemson player in Stats Perform’s data set back to 1996 to score three touchdowns in a fourth quarter specifically.
–Kicker Jonathan Weitz’s three field goals tied the Clemson bowl record set by several players. His dramatic go-ahead 52-yard field goal was a career long and tied the Clemson bowl record set by BT Potter in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game to end the 2019 season.
–Defensive tackle Tyler Davis made his 52nd career start to extend his Clemson record for the most career starts by a defensive player.
–Clemson Athletic Communications Contributed to this story
Cade Klubnik led a historic drive to seal the victory over Kentucky in the Gator Bowl in the final seconds. Get your highway 2 sign today while supplies last!