Clemson football's closest calls during ACC-record 40-game home win streak

Clemson football's seniors can finish their careers without ever having lost a game at Memorial Stadium.

Forty straight wins at home. The Tigers (10-1) will go for No. 41 in their final regular-season game Saturday (noon, ABC) against South Carolina (7-4).

Last time Clemson lost a football game at home was Nov. 12, 2016. Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson passed for 580 yards, and it still wasn’t enough as Pitt took a stunning victory, 43-42, on a last-second field goal from 48 yards by Chris Blewitt. Clemson was ahead, 42-34, with six minutes left and blew it. The Tigers went on to win the national championship.

There have been some tight ones at home in the past five seasons against some unlikely challengers – Syracuse twice, Boston College twice and Georgia Tech.

Here are the five closest calls in Clemson’s 40-game home win streak:

Oct. 22, 2022 – Clemson 27, Syracuse 21

Clemson trailed, 21-10, late in the third quarter and replaced struggling quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, after a midfield interception, with freshman Cade Klubnik. The rookie rallied the Tigers, but it was a 50-yard touchdown run by Will Shipley that gave them a 24-21 lead. Shipley made up for a third-quarter fumble and during a nine-play stretch ran the ball seven times.

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Oct. 2, 2021 – Clemson 19, Boston College 13

After taking an early 7-0 lead, Clemson could add only four B.T. Potter field goals. R.J. Mickens make a third-quarter interception in Boston College territory to set Potter up for a 35-yarder to give the Tigers a 16-13 lead. For Clemson’s defense late in the game, Andrew Booth's tackled stopped a fourth-and-9 play one yard short and KJ Henry recovered a game-sealing fumble.

Sept. 18, 2021 – Clemson 14, Georgia Tech 8

Shipley recovered his own fumble in the end zone for a safety instead of what would have been disastrous defensive touchdown as Clemson was running out the clock on the final play. Georgia Tech had first-and-goal at the 7 in the fourth quarter and managed only a field goal. The Yellow Jackets had first-and-goal at the 13 during the final minutes and got nothing.

Oct. 31, 2020 – Clemson 34, Boston College 28

Uiagalelei as a freshman made his first start on a Halloween night because Trevor Lawrence had COVID-19, and it was spooky for the Tigers. Boston College leaped out to a 28-10 lead. Uiagalelei then led Clemson to the biggest comeback in Memorial Stadium history. He threw for 432 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Etienne’s 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the Tigers on top.

Oct. 20, 2018 – Clemson 27, Syracuse 23

Clemson trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter. Etienne and quarterback Chase Brice led the way to a comeback. Etienne had a 26-yard touchdown run to get the Tigers within 23-20. Clemson closed it out with a 13-play, 94-yard drive that took 5:25 and left 41 seconds on the clock after Etienne scored from the 2. Clemson’s defense held Syracuse to 49 yards on its last seven possessions.

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: The closest calls in record home winning streak