You know that narrative might sound good if it weren't for the fact that we beat the #7 team in the country that had won 24 out of their last 25 games in Ohio state. So that clearly justifies us deserving to be there. In 2011 when we went to the orange bowl, we won our conference. Also justified us being there.
Maybe you would have gotten to a bcs game if you didn't lose to unranked teams during your golden era of outback bowls.
clemson was the 'poster child' for the diminishment of BCS bowl panache' before the playoff system - and why bowls should NOT have conference tie-ins ... as the previous poster pointed out, clemson's other recent OB 'appearances' were both preceded by losses (DOUBLE-DIGIT losses) to 'Carolina ... not the 5-point, thank gawd for watson W clem squeaked by with this year - we beat you on the field, we had a better record and 'clemson' went to a BCS while SC did not? HA!!!
THAT ALONE diminished the 'value' of a 'designated' BCS bowl ... and fans EVERYWHERE acknowledged it (as did the polls) SC finishing HIGHER than clemson in both those years.
The most meaningful 'win' in clemson history occurred last week against the Sooners ... much more meaningful than that 'back up to the pay window' '81 OB win against a 3-loss Nebraska team while the country's BEST teams were beating themselves up elsewhere - allowing clemson to win by default without ever playing Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame or Georgia ... ALL of them better teams than clemson was in 1981.
So, what cha' gonna' do against Alabama? No 'backing in' in 2015. Beat 'Bama and you will be 'the champion'. Lose (which I don't think I KNOW you will) and that still won't make you "2nd-best" ... it'll mean you got there by zigs and zags through a cush-schedule. ALL the 'big WINS' wins clemson claimed in 2015 got trounced in their own bowl games. ALL of them!
Can clemson beat 'Bama? Sure, if they turn it over 5-times like they did against 'ol Miss ... but that ain't gonna' happen. clemson's had a GREAT year - but the bubble is about to burst. The 'mask' is coming off. It's going to be WORSE that all that hype a few years back about Notre Dame - which was CLEARLY inferior to 'Bama once the actual NC game began. That year ND played the 'crip' schedule, got the bounces and rode the hype. Then they got mauled.
clemson is gonna' get mauled, too. And then 'next year' will be a whole new year.