No. 19 Clemson set to face Iowa State in Cheez-It Bowl

Clemson (9-3, 6-2) will face off with Iowa State (7-5, 5-4) in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl. The Tigers missed out on the College Football Playoffs for the first time since 2014 when they played Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl (which is now the Cheez-It Bowl), a 40-6 Clemson victory.

With rumors continuing to swirl around head coaching opportunities for defensive coordinator Brent Venables (Oklahoma) and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott (Virginia or Duke), the Tigers could have significant staff changes ahead of the matchup.

This is the first matchup between Clemson and Iowa State.

– Full Release from Clemson – 

Clemson Football and the Cheez-It Bowl announced today that No. 19 Clemson will face the Iowa State Cyclones in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The contest is slated for a 5:45 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.

Fans should stay tuned to ClemsonTigers.com/Bowl2021 for information on tickets, merchandise and more. Fans wishing to learn more about official Clemson travel options for the postseason are encouraged to visit ClemsonSportsTravel.com or call 877-373-5060. Fans can also visit the Clemson Tigers Store to purchase official Clemson merchandise for bowl season and for the holiday season.

The game will mark Clemson’s fourth appearance in the bowl all-time across the game’s various monikers. Clemson made its first appearance in the bowl in 2002, falling to Texas Tech in the Tangerine Bowl. Clemson returned to Orlando in 2005 for the Champs Sports Bowl, defeating Colorado, 19-10, behind 150 rushing yards from MVP James Davis. Clemson’s most recent appearance came in the Russell Athletic Bowl in 2014, as Cole Stoudt led Clemson in place of an injured Deshaun Watson and new Co-Offensive Coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott helped guide Clemson to a 40-6 rout of Oklahoma.

The contest will be the first all-time meeting between the Tigers and Cyclones. Clemson has won four of its last five games against Big 12 opponents, including postseason victories against Oklahoma in 2014 and 2015 in Clemson’s last two contests against Big 12 foes. 

The bowl berth extends Clemson’s school-record bowl streak to 17 years, the longest streak in the ACC and the fifth-longest streak in the country. Clemson's 17-year streak dates to its Champs Sports Bowl win against Colorado in Orlando to close the 2005 season. Though Clemson did not make a bowl appearance in 2004, Clemson has been bowl eligible in 23 consecutive seasons, dating to a 1999 appearance in the Peach Bowl.

At 9-3, Clemson will enter the Cheez-It Bowl in search of its 11th consecutive 10-win season. A victory would tie Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney (10-7 career bowl record) with Bobby Bowden for the most bowl victories in conference history, as 11 of Bowden’s 21 career bowl wins came during Florida State’s membership in the ACC.

Iowa State

Overall: 7-5 .583

Conference: 5-4 .556

Streak: W1

Home: 5-1

Away: 2-4

Neutral: 0-0