What a difference a year has made for the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry.
A year ago, Clemson was the 12th-ranked team in the country and South Carolina was 15th when the Palmetto Bowl rolled around. Both teams had hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers lost to the Gamecocks 17-14 but reached the playoff — losing to Texas in the first round — and South Carolina did not make the 12-team tournament.
On Saturday afternoon, when the two schools meet in Columbia, S.C., South Carolina (4-7, 1-7 Southeastern Conference) will be playing out the string while Clemson (6-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) will be looking toward a bowl game.
Coach Dabo Swinney, whose Tigers have won three straight games after a 45-10 victory over Furman last week, said he is proud of his seniors.
“I am most proud of how they led this year,” said Swinney, whose team lost three of its first four games this season. “With high expectations, disappointment, a lot of negativity and noise around our program, they never let that stuff in our building. They never let it on the practice field. They never let it in the meeting rooms.”
The Tigers’ offense is led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, who has thrown for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns, with five interceptions. His top receivers are Antonio Williams, who has 48 receptions for 538 yards and four touchdowns, and sophomore T.J. Moore (40 catches, 653 yards, four TDs).
Adam Randall leads the rushing attack with 677 yards and eight touchdowns on 133 carries.
The Gamecocks, who were ranked No. 13 in the preseason poll, are coming off 51-7 drubbing of Coastal Carolina.
“I’m proud of the way we played,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “It would have been easy to just show up, go through the motions, not play inspired, not be competitive, not play with energy, but none of that happened.”
The Gamecocks are led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has thrown for 2,056 yards and 11 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Nyck Harbor is the team’s leading receiver with 24 catches for 503 yards and five touchdowns, and Vandrevius Jacobs has 25 catches for 407 yards and three TDs.
Rahsul Faison paces the rushing attack with 433 yards and three TDs on 91 attempts.
