‘Greatest Rivalry’ In College Baseball
By: Jason Priester February 25, 2026

CLEMSON — The greatest rivalry in all of college baseball will renew this weekend when Clemson and South Carolina play three games at three different sites.

Since Erik Bakich arrived at Clemson ahead of the 2023 season, the head coach has made the rivalry a point of emphasis, not just for one weekend but for 365 days each and every year.

“The greatest rivalry college baseball has to offer,” Bakich said. “There is no better rivalry than Clemson-South Carolina. It is something that we have the utmost respect for. The way we prepare for it and put a target on it all year long is how we show that respect. I know it is going to be a hell of a series.”

Since dropping two out of the three to the Gamecocks during his first season as head coach, Bakich has owned the rivalry series. In 2024, the Tigers swept both games that were played. The third was canceled due to inclement weather. Last season, Clemson swept the series again, giving Bakich his first three-game sweep in the rivalry.

The Tigers (8-0) enter the series riding an eight-game winning streak to begin the season. The Tigers swept Army to open the season, then swept Bryant last weekend.

Clemson second baseman Jarren Purify (23) hits a solo home run against South Carolina in the seventh inning on Friday, February 28, 2025 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

The Gamecocks are currently 6-2, with a home midweek game against Queens set to be played on Wednesday night. South Carolina dropped a game to Northern Kentucky during its first series of the weekend, then lost at home to Army last Friday. The same Army team Clemson swept to open the season.

However, Bakich knows what’s happened in the past won’t have any impact on what happens this weekend. Once the first pitch is thrown, the fact that Clemson has won five straight in the series won’t matter. That’s just a talking point.

What will matter is executing and playing at a high level, and the team that does that the best this weekend is the team that will have the most success.

“I feel like every year they always have good players,” Bakich added. “Obviously, they have a great program. But you can take stats, you can take records, and throw them all out of the window. For this series, it is going to come down to who plays better.”

The festivities begin at Founders Park this year, with the two teams set to do battle on Friday at 7 p.m. The action moves to Segra Park on Saturday, the home of the Columbia Fireflies, with first pitch at 3 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday in Clemson, with a start time of 3 p.m.