CLEMSON — LaNorris Sellers scrambled 20 yards for a South Carolina touchdown with 1:08 to play, lifting the 15th-ranked Gamecocks to a come-from-behind, 17-14, victory over No. 12 Clemson on Saturday.

Sellers’s legs plagued the Tigers all afternoon. The Carolina quarterback ran for 166 yards on 16 carries, most of which were on scrambles. He also threw for 164 yards on 13 of 21 passing.

The Gamecocks (9-3) sealed the win when Cade Klubnik’s pass to Phil Mafah was behind him and intercepted by linebacker Demetrius Knight.

It was a disappointing ending for Klubnik, who had played well up until the interception. The Clemson quarterback finished the afternoon 24-for-36 for 280 yards. He also ran for 62 yards and scored two touchdowns.

The loss to the Gamecocks was the second straight at home for Clemson and the first time that has happened since it lost two straight home games to its rival in 2010 and 2012.

After a scoreless first quarter, Clemson (9-3) got on the scoreboard first. Quarterback Cade Klubnik rumbled 14 yards for a touchdown to cap a three-play, 57-yard drive.

The big play of the drive was a Klubnik to Antonio Williams pass that covered 40 yards to the Gamecocks’ 17. After a Mafah short run, Klubnik called his own number on a quarterback draw, as he ran untouched into the end zone with 12:07 to play in the first half.

However, Carolina tied the game with a 25-yard LaNorris Sellers TD on their next possession.

Clemson (9-3) took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched it straight down the field to retake the lead against the Gamecocks.

Klubnik led the offense on an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive and capped it by calling his own number and scampering in from 18-yards out. As Klubnik was going into the end zone the junior quarterback put his shoulder down and bulled straight into a South Carolina defender, putting Clemson up 14-7 early in the third quarter.

The Gamecocks added a 42-yard field goal by Alex Herrera with 6:48 to play to cut the Clemson lead to 14-10.

Playoff implications

Clemson’s loss to the Gamecocks might not hurt the Tigers if they can take advantage of the opportunity Miami created. The Hurricanes lost to Syracuse later in the afternoon, allowing Clemson to sneak into the ACC Championship Game where it will play No. 9 SMU (11-1) next Saturday in Charlotte.

If the Tigers win the game, they will earn the ACC’s automatic College Football Playoff spot as one of the top five conferences in college football this season.

First time in 14 years

Clemson lost its second home game this season, pushing the Tigers’ record to 5-2 in Death Valley this year. Clemson has not lost two home games in a season since 2010, when it was also 5-2 at Memorial Stadium.

Carolina ended Clemson’s 40-game home winning streak with a one-point win at Death Valley in 2022.

Klubnik can run too

A lot a was made of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ ability to run the football, which is understandable. However, Klubnik showed he can run too.

The Clemson quarterback ran for 62 yards, including touchdown runs of 14 and 18 yards.

Takeaways

The Tigers had three turnovers in the game. They forced a Sellers’ fumble on Carolina’s first possession of the day and later a strip fumble recovery on running back Raheim Sanders in the third quarter.

Clemson safety Khalil Barnes also intercepted Sellers in the fourth quarter to stymie a South Carolina scoring scoring drive.

Injuries

In a surprise, Clemson played all of the players who were questionable for the game and even nickel Shelton Lewis played, who was supposed to be out for the season, according to head coach Dabo Swinney.

Defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart also played against the Gamecocks. Capehart and Lewis were both hurt in the Louisville game earlier this month.

Linebacker Wade Woodaz started the game, as did left tackle Tristan Leigh and left guard Marcus Tate. Leigh and Tate have missed most of the previous three games with injuries.

Up Next

Clemson will play SMU next Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. and will be televised on ABC.