Perhaps no fan base hated watching Ohio State win its second College Football Playoff National Championship more than Michigan fans.

Though the Wolverines own bragging rights in the longstanding rivalry, I am sure Buckeye fans do not care right now and probably will not care for the rest of the year. Why should they?

They are national champions and, let’s be honest, that is all that matters, right?

In today’s college football bragging rights only go so far. The same can be said in the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry, just to a lesser extent.

Do not get me wrong. Beating your rival is important, I understand that as well as anyone.

I was born and raised in South Carolina. I was raised by a Clemson graduate. Growing up, no one wanted the Tigers to beat the Gamecocks more than I did.

So, I get it.

Right now, the Gamecocks own bragging rights in the state of South Carolina. They won the game.

However, Clemson had the better season.

The Tigers, who finished the season 10-4, were ranked tied for No. 11 in the final Coaches Poll and No. 14 in the final AP Poll, which were released on Tuesday. South Carolina, which had a 9-4 record, finished No. 19 in both polls.

I have to imagine, that really sticks in the Gamecocks’ craw.

Like Ohio State did in its rivalry with Michigan, the Buckeyes obviously had the better season. Other than Michigan fans, who is going to remember who won the rivalry game in 10 years. However, I guarantee you, everyone will know that Ohio State won the 2024 National Championship.

The Gamecocks beat Clemson 17-14 at Memorial Stadium this past November, but other than bragging rights, what else do they have? They did not win the SEC. They did not make it to the College Football Playoff, and they did not win their bowl game.

Clemson on the other hand. Earned its way into the ACC Championship Game—Tigers were 7-1 in conference play, Miami was 6-2—and won the ACC Championship. By virtue of its ACC Championship, the Tigers clinched an automatic berth into the College Football Playoff.

Outside of winning the national championship or maybe advancing to the CFP Semifinals, getting to the CFP is the new standard for every FBS college football program. It is not easy to do and when it is accomplished, it deserves to be celebrated.

I know there will be some out there that disagree with me, and that is okay. You are entitled to your opinion.

However, this spring, Clemson’s players will receive two rings. One ring will be for the ACC Championship—the program’s 22nd by the way—and the other will be for making the College Football Playoff, the program’s seventh appearance in the 11 years the CFP has existed.

When Clemson hosts LSU on Aug. 30 to start the 2025 football season, it will unveil the 2025 College Football Playoff logo on the façade of the south upper deck in Death Valley.

Sure, the Gamecocks will get a ring for participating in the Citrus Bowl and they might get one for beating Clemson, for all I know, which would be weird.

But in the end, when one team is hanging another conference championship and CFP banner in its stadium and the other one is just dusting off their last one from 55 years ago, I think it is safe to say one had a better season than the other.