And with a five-game winning streak and a victory over Kentucky (7-5) in the Gator Bowl on Friday, the Tigers can now end their worst season since 2010.

Phil Mafah, a running back, said, “It just shows that we have no quit.” “We’re going to react when our backs are against the wall. Whatever we have to deal with, we will react.

What had appeared to be coach Dabo Swinney’s worst season at Clemson in his fifteen years was saved when the Tigers defeated rival South Carolina, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Notre Dame.

“I’ve experienced far more difficult seasons than finishing 8-4 and earning a trip to the Gator Bowl. That is unquestionably true. Swinneystated. This year, we definitely experienced some disappointment: four trips inside the 10 at Duke, a double-overtime loss, an overtime loss, and an inability to score. That may be a small amount of football adversity, but this season has been all about it.

“It just shows that we have no quit,” running back Phil Mafah said. “When our backs are against the wall, we’re going to respond. We’re going to respond no matter what we face.”

The Tigers upset Notre Dame and knocked off Georgia Tech, North Carolina and rival South Carolina to salvage what had looked like it was going to be coach Dabo Swinney’s worst season in 15 years at Clemson.

“I’ve been through some much tougher seasons than being 8-4 and getting to go to the Gator Bowl. That is for dang sure,” Swinney said. “We certainly had some disappointment this year: double-overtime loss, overtime loss, four trips inside the 10 at Duke and couldn’t get a point. That’s a little football adversity, but that’s the story of this season.this season’s narrative.