Clemson moved into the No. 1 spot a week after they concluded the 1981 regular season with a win over South Carolina. Penn State beat Dan Marino and previously No. 1 Pittsburgh, 42-14, propelling the Tigers to the top of the polls as they headed to play Nebraska in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.
It marked the first time Clemson was ranked No. 1 in the polls in school history.
“We know we have one more thing to do,” head coach Danny Ford said. “I’m just like everybody else, I want to see how good Clemson is.