Special teams has long been an issue for the Tigers, and unfortunately one of Clemson's best teams ever was undermined by a special teams unit that was one of the worst in college football in 2016.
Clemson's undefeated run through its first 14 games of the 2015 season was accomplished despite special teams that ranked an unfathomable third worst in the nation in efficiency. Unfortunately, that ineptitude reared its ugly head again in the Tigers' 15th contest, and they came up an agonizing five points short of winning the school's second national championship. For all its improvement and success on the recruiting trail in recent years, Clemson has been unable to parlay its depth and athletic ability into anything resembling competent special teams play.