CLEMSON, S.C. — With the college football season in the books, the final Associated Press Top 25 has been released.
On the strength of five consecutive wins to close out the 2023 season, the Tigers finished 20th in the final ranking.
Clemson was staring at a 4-4 record before an upset of 12th-ranked Notre Dame started the rally. That was followed by wins over Georgia Tech, North Carolina and South Carolina which left the Tigers at 8-4 at the end of November.
In Jacksonville, Clemson faced Kentucky in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and after a wild fourth-quarter which featured a combined 42 points, four turnovers and five lead changes, the Tigers pulled out a 38-35 win over the Wildcats.
With a 9-4 record for 2023, Clemson and Alabama are the only programs in the country with active streaks of at least 13 consecutive seasons with at least nine wins.
AP Top 25 Poll
1. Michigan (61)2. Washington3. Texas4. Georgia5. Alabama6. Oregon6. Florida State 8. Missouri9.Ole Miss10. Ohio State11. Arizona12. LSU13. Penn State14. Notre Dame15. Oklahom16. Oklahoma State17. Tennessee 18. Kansas State19. Louisville20. Clemson21. North Carolina State22. SMU23. Kansas 24. Iowa25. Liberty