The top-ranked Clemson Tigers will travel to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia to take on arch rival South Carolina in what is now known as the Palmetto Bowl. The game will kickoff at noon and will be televised by ESPN.
The Tigers are seeking to close out the regular season with an undefeated record for the first time since 1981, the year they won the national championship. They are also looking to match their season-high 12 wins in one season with a victory in Columbia. That also occurred in 1981.
About South Carolina: The Gamecocks are 1-4 under interim head coach Shawn Elliott. They are coming off a 23-22 loss to the Citadel. Quarterback Perry Orth threw for 367 yards and a touchdown, while completing 28-of-43 passes. USC allowed 350 rushing yards, and were held to just 72 on the offensive side.
South Carolina’s offense: The Gamecocks rank 110th nationally in scoring offense (21.0) and 101st nationally in total offense (358.5). Quarterback Perry Orth has completed 55.8 percent of his passes for 1,710 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has also thrown 8 interceptions. Running back Brandon Wilds leads the team with 559 yards and three touchdowns. Lorenzo Nunez, who also plays quarterback, has rushed for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns in seven games. Wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who is used in so many different ways by the coaching staff, leads Carolina with 62 catches for 887 yards and seven touchdowns. He is averaging 96.6 all-purpose yards per game.
South Carolina’s defense: USC is allowing 26.6 points per game. The Gamecocks rank 113th nationally against the run, yielding 215.7 yards per game. They are allowing 422.1 yards overall. Linebacker Skai Moore leads the team with 98 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also has a team-high four interceptions. Middle linebacker T.J. Holloman has 54 tackles and two interceptions.
Records: Clemson 11-0; South Carolina 3-8
Series record: Clemson leads the series 66-42-4
Games in Columbia: Clemson leads 49-32-3
First meeting: South Carolina won 12-6 in 1896
Last Meeting: Clemson won 35-17 in 2014
Last South Carolina win: 31-17 in Columbia in 2013
Streak: South Carolina has won three straight in Columbia
Injuries: Clemson – Out: LB Korrin Wiggins (knee); WR Mike Williams (neck). Doubtful: WR Ray Ray McCloud (knee). Questionable: OG Tyrone Crowder (foot). Probable: DB Jefferie Gibson (concussion); LB Kendall Joseph (concussion); RB Wayne Gallman (ankle); DB Mackensie Alexander (knee). South Carolina – Questionable: OL Mike Matulis (ribs); DL Taylor Stallworth (Chest).
Stat worth noting: The Gamecocks are 3-1 when winning the turnover battle, while Clemson is 5-0 when turning the ball over more than its opponent. Carolina is 0-4 when the turnover battle is even and 0-3 when it losses it. The Tigers are 2-0 when the turnover battle is even and is 4-0 when they win the turnover battle.
Second stat worth noting: Clemson’s offense has recorded seven straight games in which it has totaled 500 or more total yards. The Tigers have averaged 40.6 points and 555.1 yards per game during the current seven game run.
Third stat worth noting: Clemson has outscored its opponent 272-87 in the first half this year, including 141-47 in the first quarter.
Memorable game: In 1981, Clemson closed out the regular season with a 29-13 victory over the Gamecocks in Columbia. The Tigers trailed early in the game, 7-0, when defensive back Rod McSwain blocked a first-quarter punt. The ball rolled into the end zone where Johnny Rembert landed on the ball for a Clemson touchdown. Though the Tigers missed the extra point and still trailed, the momentum shifted over to the Tigers and they did not relinquish it the rest of the day. McSwain’s brother, Chuck, rushed for 151 yards to lead the Clemson offense that day. He had a 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Tigers. After McSwain’s fourth-quarter score, Clemson fans began throwing oranges on the field to signify the Tigers’ pending invitation to play in the 1982 Orange Bowl. The win gave the Tigers a perfect 11-0 record in the regular season, the first time the Tigers ended the regular season with a perfect mark since the 1948 squad went 10-0 in the regular season.