National Writer Does not Think Clemson is ‘blue blood’
By: Gavin Oliver August 11, 2025

Clemson is not among the elite teams in college football – at least, according to this national writer.

On3’s Andy Staples released his list of “blue blood” programs, and Clemson did not make the cut.

Meanwhile, 12 other teams – Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas and Southern Cal – did make Staples’ list of the blue bloods.

So, why did Staples leave Clemson off the list?

Here’s the criteria he used to compile his blue bloods:

  • Top 15 in program win percentage (Minimum 750 games)
  • At least one national title in two of three eras (AP or Coaches poll in the two poll eras, winner of the final game in the Bowl Championship Series/College Football Playoff era)

Clemson has an all-time record of 804–473–44, which gives the Tigers a .625 winning percentage.

That winning percentage is what kept Clemson off the list, as it’s outside the top 15.

Clemson does meet the national title criteria, as the Tigers have won two national championships in the College Football Playoff era, with those national titles coming in 2016 and 2018. Clemson’s first national title came in 1981, when the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and the UPI Coaches Polls at the end of the bowl season.