Reliving 2016: Gallman, Williams Lead Tigers in Rout of BC
By: Ashby Mixon October 16, 2026

No. 3 Clemson 56, Boston College 10

Editor’s note: Each week, the Clemson Insider honors Clemson’s 2016 National Championship Team by reliving that week’s game on the schedule. Follow all season long as we talk to players and coaches who lived through the ups and downs of a dramatic season that brought Clemson its first national championship in 35 years.

CLEMSON – When in jeopardy of coming out flat, just get the ball to Wayne Gallman in the flats.

At least, that is what Clemson learned in its 56-10 drubbing of Boston College on an early-October Friday night in 2016.

Because the Tigers were on short rest after an emotional 42-36 win over the third-ranked Louisville Cardinals, they needed to find a way to keep their momentum going in a chilly road trip to the Massachusetts. With national championship hopes on the line, there was no room for a letdown.

“It was a taxing week, but our guys didn’t complain,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. “They just went through the grind. I love that mentality of that team.”

Through five games in Swinney’s eighth full year as a head coach, Clemson had already proved that it could move the ball through the air with ease, amassing over 600 passing yards over its first two ACC matchups. 

Clemson’s Wayne Gallman (9) celebrates his 59-yard touchdown run (above) with teammates Artavis Scott (3), Ray Ray McCloud (34) and Jordan Leggett in the Tigers’ win over Boston College on October 7, 2016 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass. (photos by Robert MacRae/The Clemson Insider)

The pinnacle of airborne success came just six days before taking on the Eagles in Chestnut Hill, when quarterback Deshaun Watson accounted for five passing touchdowns en route to the Tigers’ second-ranked win of the year over Lamar Jackson and Louisville at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. 

There was no doubt that Clemson was capable of explosive plays through the air.

Watson could not will the Tigers to a national championship on his own, though. If Clemson hoped to make it through the ranks of another College Football Playoff, it would need Gallman, a running back, to become a major factor.

As if on cue, dominance against the Eagles came in dashes to the end zone.

“The run creates everything,” running back Wayne Gallman said. “It really sets up the pass and just sets up the offense and gets everything going. I’m glad to have that job.”

After Boston College opened up the game with a field goal thanks to a muffed punt, it was an entirely orange-tinted first quarter. Watson completed his first two passes for 10 yards, then ran for five to pick up a Clemson first down.

Then, after a lack of run-game explosives in the early season, Gallman received a handoff, tiptoed to an open lane, high-stepped a quartet of defenders and raced in for a 59-yard touchdown run, the longest rushing touchdown of the year.

Around five minutes later, Boston College was forced to pick its poison, stopping the Tigers’ run only to allow a 50-yard pass to Mike Williams, who eventually caught Clemson’s second touchdown to cap off a 71-yard drive.

Another 56-yard pass to Jordan Leggett gave the Tigers a comfortable 21-3 lead after one quarter.

In the meantime, Clemson’s defense forced a turnover on downs and a fumble in the first half. The Eagles also had to punt four times in that span. Fittingly, linebacker Ben Boulware–a disruptor all season–caused the fumble and freshman phenom Dexter Lawrence scooped it up to give the Tigers’ offense yet another possession.

Clemson wide receivers Mike Williams (7) and Artavis Scott (3) celebrate a Williams’ touchdown in the Tigers’ win over Boston College on October 7, 2016 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass. (Robert MacRae/The Clemson Insider)

When the defense was not on the field to help out Watson, Gallman and his band of backs were. With the game all but over entering the second half, the Tigers grinded out the clock on the ground, notching running plays of 15 yards or more on each possession in the final two quarters.

The ground game worked so well for the Tigers that with a 42-10 lead in the fourth quarter, Watson got some much needed rest while two backup signal-callers ran the offense. Despite the running success, Watson still managed to finish with 270 passing yards and four touchdowns in just over three quarters of play.

With the Tigers’ leader on the sideline, a 45-yard touchdown run from running back Tavien Feaster and a pick-six by Mark Fields capped off a 56-10 Clemson win.

“I think the big plays have come off of being able to run the football,” Swinney said. “I think that that’s ultimately the key to us. When we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, especially up front, and being able to establish things, and run the ball, it sets all those other things up.

“I’m pleased with the explosiveness,” Swinney added. “And hopefully, we can continue to add that to the grind-out running game.”

To Swinney’s point, the high-scoring performance started on both lines of scrimmage. The Tigers’ offensive line only allowed two tackles for loss–both sacks–to Clemson’s eight, and held the Eagles to only 3.5 yards per play to the Tigers’ 8.3.

Gallman finished with 109 yards on just nine carries and came home with the Leather Helmet, awarded annually to the best player in the O’Rourke–McFadden Trophy rivalry game.

Clemson, now 6-0, left the northeast with a renewed sense of confidence in the run-game and another solid ACC victory under its belt headed into the heart of conference play.