Another good one....

Top 10 OOC Wish List

With the recent news that Clemson dropped Pittsburgh off of its schedule in 2010 and 2011, only to add Auburn 10 days later, it seemed like a good time to weigh in on who else the Tigers should schedule in the future.

Today on the CUTigers.com Preseason Blog, we take a look at our top 10 wish list of out of conference opponents. Keep in mind, each of these games would be a home-and-home series.

10. Nebraska
- Rematch of the 1981 National Championship game anyone? Nebraska, while not the same kind of national power it was in the 1980's or mid-1990's is still a quality non-conference opponent. For a while it looked like Clemson would face off with the Huskers in the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl but it never happened. Clemson went on to beat Colorado that year and the Huskers were nothing more than an afterthought. Still, Nebraska would be a great home-and-home series in the coming years none the less. For what it's worth, I have Clemson playing Nebraska in this year's Gator Bowl in our 2007 Clemson Football Preview edition of CUTigers The Magazine.

9. Ohio State
- The last time these two teams faced off came in 1978, in the Gator Bowl. One punch later and one of the legendary coaches in college football history, Woody Hayes, found himself out of the job after punching Clemson LB Charlie Bauman. A home-and-home with the Buckeyes, one of college football's top programs under Jim Tressel, would have fans talking for years.

8. Texas A&M
- The Aggies could easily move up this list based on the two games played in 2004 and 2005. Both schools have a strong military background and fan bases that appreciate college football tradition. What's more is the last game played in Death Valley was an absolute thriller won by the Tigers on a 42-yard Jad Dean field goal with just seconds remaining. More Texas A&M, less Louisiana-Monroe.

7. LSU
- LSU, of course, plays in Death Valley, the same name of Clemson's stadium. Both schools use the Tiger as its mascot. Both schools use versions of Tiger Rag as their fight song. Given the similarities, it's only fitting the two decide who's best on the football field. There's no denying LSU has been the better football program overall, but let the bragging rites between these two schools be established on the field going forward. Clemson last faced off with the Tigers in the 1996 Peach Bowl, nearly pulling off the upset against a team that won 10 games that season.

6. UCLA
- At least one team from the West Coast has to be on this list ... why not UCLA? The Bruins offer significant name recognition and tradition. While not the power that USC is (the real one people, not the pretend one), would anybody in their right mind schedule the talent-rich Trojans right now?

5. Oklahoma
- Funny thing is that Clemson and Oklahoma were scheduled to meet on the gridiron in 2008 and 2011 but the series was called off in 2004 due to ACC expansion. The Sooners have one of the top programs in college football history and would be a welcome addition in a home-and-home series. The two schools last met in the 1989 Citrus Bowl- a 13-6 Clemson victory. Boomer Sooner!

4. Michigan
- The Wolverines offer as much tradition as any school in college football. Furthermore, Clemson has never met Michigan on the gridiron. Why not now? A trip to Ann-Arbor, while long, would be a nice change of pace for Clemson fans, especially during the hot month of September. The Big House sounds like a Big Deal to us simple southerners.

3. Alabama
- As close as Alabama is to South Carolina, it's a shame these two schools have only met a handful of times over the years. Alabama, while not as powerful since its last national championship in 1992, is still a worthy opponent. I admit, this program bores me but I put this here under peer pressure from people that frequent this blog.

2. West Virginia
- Former Clemson offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez has turned the Mountaineers into a national power. Could his Indy offense come back and haunt the Tigers? Perhaps, but as things stand right now, we'll never know. There's always the possibility of meeting West Virginia in the Gator Bowl given the current tie ins with the ACC and Big East, but even that possibility feels like a long shot. Angry Rich Rod versus Bible belt Tommy. I like it.

1. Georgia
- Georgia owned Clemson on the gridiron until the 1980's, but the Tigers more than held their own starting with a 13-3 win in 1981 that ultimately paved the way for Clemson's only National Championship in football. The teams squared off again in 1994, 95, 2002 and 2003- all Georgia wins. Considering just 90 miles separates the two schools and the two often square off in recruiting, there's no reason why this shouldn't be a yearly battle on the field. The good news is Clemson and Georgia have already scheduled a home-and-home for 2013 and 2014, but that's too long from now. And again, the Tigers and Bulldogs need to be playing every year.

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