National Football Foundation

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame recognized Clemson (14-1) as the recipient of the 2016 NFF MacArthur Bowl Championship Trophy following its 35-31 victory over Alabama (14-1) Jan. 9, 2017, in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship before a sold-out crowd of 74,512 fans, a record for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Clemson’s name will be etched alongside the greatest teams in college football history for the second time overall on the MacArthur Bowl Championship Trophy, which is housed at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney were officially presented with the trophy June 1, 2017, during a ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Clemson athletics director Dan Radakovich was also in attendance and SEC Network broadcaster Tony Barnhart emceed the event.

"To be here today is kind of surreal, and to look at this trophy and to know that we have Clemson's name on it, and to be associated with so many other great teams and great coaches and great players, it truly is an honor," Coach Swinney said at the event at the Hall. "And I am the one standing up here at the podium, but I am a little uncomfortable with that to be honest with you because I am just one guy, and if there is one thing that the game of football teaches is team, and we all have a role. And I am not standing here without a lot of great people and that is just the bottom line. I am really here to represent Clemson University, to represent our board of trustees, President [James P.] Clements, Dan Radakovich, and to accept this trophy most of all on behalf of our staff and our team."

“On behalf of the National Football Foundation, our 12,000 members and our board of directors, and Chairman Archie Manning, we are extremely proud to recognize Coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “This trophy was started in 1959 by General Douglas MacArthur, Grantland Rice, the great sports writer, and legendary coach Red Blaik, and etched on the side of this stadium replica in all silver are all of the subsequent national champions. As the keepers of the history and the legacy of the sport of football, we are exceptionally pleased to etch this Clemson team on its walls."

Swinney’s 2016 Tigers were led by two-time Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Deshaun Watson, who notched four touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter. Watson, the game’s Most Valuable Player, passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns, adding another rushing. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow caught two of the touchdowns, including the game-winning score with one second remaining in the game. The former walk-on finished with a game-high 10 catches for 92 yards. Tight end Jordan Leggett and wide receiver Mike Williams added 95 and 94 receiving yards, respectively. Senior linebacker Ben Boulware collected Defensive MVP honors with six tackles, including one for a six-yard loss.

With the win, Clemson claims the MacArthur Bowl for the second time in the school’s history. The Tigers previously won the MacArthur Bowl in 1981 under 2017 College Football Hall of Fame electee Danny Ford. A team in the current ACC has now claimed the trophy 11 times.