1896 Clemson Tigers football team

1896 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Independent
1896 record	2–1
Head coach	Walter Riggs
Captain	R. G. Hamilton

1896 SIAA football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
LSU +	4	–	0	–	0			6	–	0	–	0
Georgia +	3	–	0	–	0			4	–	0	–	0
Tennessee	1	–	0	–	0			4	–	0	–	0
Vanderbilt	3	–	0	–	1			3	–	2	–	2
Auburn	3	–	1	–	0			3	–	1	–	0
Georgia Tech	1	–	1	–	1			1	–	1	–	1
Texas	1	–	1	–	0			4	–	2	–	1
Alabama	1	–	1	–	0			2	–	1	–	0
Kentucky State	1	–	1	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Sewanee	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	3	–	0
Tulane	1	–	2	–	0			3	–	2	–	0
Nashville	0	–	1	–	1			0	–	1	–	1
Mercer	0	–	2	–	1			0	–	2	–	1
North Carolina	0	–	1	–	0			3	–	4	–	1
SW Presbyterian	0	–	1	–	0			0	–	1	–	0
Ole Miss	0	–	2	–	0			1	–	2	–	0
Mississippi A&M	0	–	2	–	0			0	–	4	–	0
Clemson	0	–	0	–	0			2	–	1	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

The 1896 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson Agricultural College in the 1896 college football season. Professor Walter Riggs brought the game to Clemson from his alma mater, Auburn, where he was a member of Auburn's first football team. The Tigers completed their first season with a record of 2–1, with wins over upstate neighboring colleges Furman and Wofford, and a loss in the first installment of the rivalry with South Carolina. All games were played in the opposing school's home city. The rivalry matchup with South Carolina was held on Thursday morning at the South Carolina state fair, a tradition that would endure until 1960. Riggs served as the team's coach while R. G. Hamilton was the first captain.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
October 31	at Furman*	Greenville, SC	W 14–6
November 12	at South Carolina*	Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	L 6–12
November 21	at Wofford*	Spartanburg, SC	W 16–0
*Non-conference game.