For the first time in the 111-year history of the rivalry, the University of South Carolina and Clemson will line up as Top Ten opponents on Saturday.
After back-to-back Top Twenty showdowns, the “Palmetto Bowl” has officially jumped to a higher energy level this year – with the Tigers (10-1, 7-1 ACC) entering the game ranked No. 4 in the nation according to the USA Today/ Coaches poll and No. 6 nationally according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile head coach Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks (9-2, 6-2 SEC) are ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25 and No. 9 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ poll.
Both Palmetto State squads had smooth sailing against in-state FCS opponents this weekend – with Clemson trouncing The Citadel 52-6 and South Carolina demolishing Coastal Carolina 70-10.
After dropping ten games against Clemson over a twelve-year span from 1997-2008, South Carolina has won four in a row against the Tigers – and is hoping to win five straight for the first time in school history. The Gamecocks are also looking to extend a school record 17-game home winning streak.
Kickoff from a sold out Williams-Brice Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday with ESPN 2 televising the game nationally.
Elsewhere in the polls, Alabama remained at No. 1 followed by Florida State and Ohio State.
The Tide travel to The Plains to play No. 4/5 Auburn this weekend – with the winner advancing to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, Georgia on December 7. South Carolina remains in contention for a berth in that game, too – although they need No. 19/21 Texas A&M to pull off an upset of No. 5/6 Missouri.
To the polls!
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (November 24)
1. Alabama (56) 11-0, 1496
2. Florida State (4) 11-0, 1444
3. Ohio State 11-0, 1375
4. Auburn 10-1, 1294
5. Missouri 10-1, 1202
6. Clemson 10-1, 1196
7. Oklahoma State 10-1, 1177
8. Stanford 9-2, 1002
9. Baylor 9-1, 976
10. South Carolina 9-2, 960
11. Michigan State 10-1, 929
12. Oregon 9-2, 731
13. Arizona State 9-2, 690
14. Wisconsin 9-2, 684
15. LSU 8-3, 642
16. Fresno State 10-0, 619
17. UCF 9-1, 588
18. Northern Illinois 11-0, 470
19. Texas A&M 8-3, 429
20. Oklahoma 9-2, 386
21. Louisville 10-1, 383
22. UCLA 8-3, 300
23. USC 9-3, 262
24. Duke 9-2, 135
25. Notre Dame 8-3, 68
Dropped from rankings: Ole Miss 24
Others receiving votes: Georgia 15, Cincinnati 10, Texas 10, Ole Miss 7, Arizona 6, Nebraska 6, Minnesota 5, East Carolina 1, North Dakota State 1, Vanderbilt 1.
USA TODAY/ COACHES’ POLL (November 24)
1. Alabama (56) 11-0, 1544
2. Florida State (6) 11-0, 1488
3. Ohio State 11-0, 1428
4. Clemson 10-1, 1289
5. Auburn 10-1, 1268
6. Missouri 10-1, 1243
7. Oklahoma State 10-1, 1225
8. Baylor 9-1, 1009
9. South Carolina 9-2, 1003
10. Stanford 9-2, 981
11. Michigan State 10-1, 962
12. Oregon 9-2, 777
13. Fresno State 10-0, 687
14. Wisconsin 9-2, 661
15. LSU 8-3, 646
16. Louisville 10-1, 603
17. Oklahoma 9-2, 581
18. Arizona State 9-2, 574
19. UCF 9-1, 512
20. Northern Illinois 11-0, 459
21. Texas A&M 8-3, 410
22. UCLA 8-3, 257
23. USC 9-3, 210
24. Duke 9-2, 203
25. Cincinnati 9-2, 47
Dropped from rankings: Minnesota 23
Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 17, Texas 12, Minnesota 12, East Carolina 11, Georgia 8, Nebraska 7, Louisiana-Lafayette 6, Miami (FL) 6, Vanderbilt 2, Arizona 2.
52 comments
Save your thumbs, fellows. Save your thumbs…
You sure as hell can bet Missouri ain’t going down either.
Here kitty kitty kitty
It’s time to restore order to the state of SC. Chicken kickin’ week!
Spurrier will once again make Dabo his bitch.
Carolina loses to unranked Tennessee and ranked Georgia. They bully beat down a high school team (Coastal Carolina) and for that they are a top ten team? Phaleeze!
Not to mention they barely beat Florida – who has their own problems with 10 starters hurt, etc.
Is this what Division I football has become? Clemson is the 4th best team in the country and USC is a top-10 team? Pathetic.
And Duke is ACC elite. Love it!
Duke also has a winning record vs South Carolina.
That’s not breaking news. Carolina is an historically terrible program, remember? Maybe one of the worst in the country. Can’t imagine the Cocks beating one of the nation’s elite programs four times in succession. Go figure.
Neither one is a legit top ten. There are a lest 12 teams ranked behind them that would slaughter either one
and Carolina also beat a top 5 team this late in the season and a top 15 team. Clemson hasn’t beaten anyone and they are top 5? phaleeze.
That team also lost their starting QB for the season and they need a miracle comeback.
get you facts right., yes, the QB was out, but he wasn’t out for the season. If so how did he play last Saturday? Idiot Tigers talking without thinking again. Nor was it a miracle comeback. we beat em all 4th quarter. Clemson forgets a game is 4 quarters. I guess it was kind of like when Pickens U. beat UGA by a botched FG snap on a pitch shot FG attempt huh? Is that a miracle too? Remember Clemson all too knows a back up QB can still win. it happened the last 2 years didn’t it? plus a 3rd string RB and a point guard at receiver.
Wow, how full of worry you must be about South Carolina. I notice you crying that they are ranked in the top 10 but have no complaint Stanford is in the same top 10 with the exact same scenario you just pointed out. Odd isn’t it? You are as worried about the Gamecocks as your dumbass coach. The gamecocks live in your head. Cry babies like you not only cant play this game, but you aren’t manly enough to watch it either, and should be allowed to. Good game against all of those “hard teams” you played this year, Oh I forgot it was only 1 and they butt reamed you at your own field. Yeah you deserve a top 5 ranking for that. Way to go dumbass.
Wordy little fart aren’t you?
says the other Clemson coach with a losing record vs the USC
You mean old records still count?
63-17; 65-41-4.
Y’all can’t have your cake and eat it too.
how many games did you win from 1943-1954? You were the coach then weren’t you? Don’t know, i’ll answer it for you 2. Just 2. Doesn’t that obscure old reference from a game way back when mean just as much?
I was an English major, sonny, but I can count too. How many games did the shamecocks win between 1997 and 2008?
2 just 2.
There ain’t many ways to get around statistics, sonny. 65-41-4. I’m waiting for some more comparisons, sonny.
2008. old fart
tell you what old timer, win again then come back. until then you can stay in the past cause I’m done with ya. later old man
I can tell you’re a Statistics major so I’m gonna help you cram for your Exams next month.
Shamecocks have won four in a row 2 times. 3 in a row 3 times.
My Tigers have won 7 in a row once, 4 in a row 7 times, and 3 in a row 3 times.
Just remember, sonny, the answer to the bonus questions are 63-17 and 65-41-4.
Sorry fuck face, I pull for neither Carolina or Clemson. Take a breath from giving yourself head, all that sucking is causing the cells in your brain to die.
if I come up for breath, it will be from going down on you wife. nice try on acting like you aren’t a Tiger. you really have no life so you just come here to post? sure. later pussy
Hey lil’ pussy, dont chickens eat their own shit?
I don’t know, but I am sure you sniff your own farts.
Maybe but cats lick their own asses.
And beat 5th ranked UM and 17th ranked UCF on the road.
Predicktion:There will be lots of Cock:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H-FBrpxl8k
You guys think you have concerns about football?…..
A father was discussing his daughter who made the cheerleading squad. “She goes to Clemson University. She could have gone to the University of South Carolina, but it’s one more letter she would have to remember.”
I love the guys that talk shit about Carolina, then act all like they don’t care and don’t pull for either team. WTF are you in here for then? LOL must have a real fulfilling life!! I guess admitting you in fact are a tiger, must be about as hard as finally coming out of the closet finally, but Squishy has practice with that don’t ya?
Talking shit, or stating facts? Proud to be a Tiger fan!
Carolina is going to run that short, black, fat-assed, QB off the field again this year.
So, it’s that time, again. Sigh…. Humility dies. Hubris flies. I hope Sakerliner wins and Clem’s son loses.
But there will be a game Saturday night, and THAT will be the decider. It’s why they play the game.
Run the table including a SEC Championship (against Alabama) and be number 3 in the nation on December 9th. How does the Orange Bowl sound?
Really #3 with two losses, including one to Tennessee?
When Auburn loses to Alabama and Missouri loses to T A&M, and we beat Clemson and Alabama, we could see the Orange Bowl and the three ranking.
Dream a little dream, there, Tommy.
You’re funny!
35-24 Carolina
The real ranking is CU no. 21. Tater haters there is therapy and football. Get your hoods ready.
Wait, where is SC Jr.? Behind Tater U and Pickens Tech, that’s where!
Deal with it!!!
Lotta smack talk about Duke in control of the Coastal. Cutcliff can flat out coach. It’s between him and Gustav Malzahn for Coach of the Year. That’s not what I want to look at… Let’s look at the SEC EAST: Home of the powerhouses.
Kentucky: 2-9 victories include Miami (OH) and Alabama State. SC only beat them by 7… AT HOME. But KY has always sucked…
Tennessee: 4-7 victories include Austin Peay (who?), W. Kentucky, South Alabama, and SOUTH CAROLINA… HA!
Florida: 4-7 victories include Toledo and the other 2 aforementioned losers. SC only beat them by 5… AT HOME. In case you’ve been living under a rock, they also lost to a FCS opponent. Can’t say that about the ACC. They started out in the top 10 in the preseason poll. How the mighty have fallen…
Vandy: 7-4 victories include UAB, UMASS, and the other 3 losers above. They did beat a depleted UGA. But honestly, who couldn’t beat them… oh wait… SC couldn’t.
UGA: Poor UGA. 7-4. 27 key players with injuries at some point. That sucks. They could have been a decent team, but injuries are part of the game. This year they started the year in the top 5 and with a mouth full of SEC non-sense. GT should put them to bed Saturday. Last year they were a play away from the NCG.
Mouth Carolina, 9-2 struggled vs Kentucky, Vandy, UF, UCF, and Mississippi State. Got drubbed by a banged up Georgia team, who the Tigers beat when they were at full strength, I might add. Got bounced by Tennessee. Shaw doesn’t do too well when you hit him in the mouth and Clowney doesn’t make “Who’s scared of me statements and retarded over-hyped commercials” after you run the ball down his throat. The only convincing wins to me were vs Arkansas (3-8), UNC (6-5) and CCU (FCS).
Honestly… who has Missouri beat? Toledo (a SEC favorite)? Murray State? Ark State? Indiana? A semi-healthy UGA and an Ole Miss team that gets ranked simply because they’re SEC? Not really impressed, but you play your schedule. Do they deserve a top 5 ranking? HELL NO! 2 years ago they were 8-5 in the Big 12, now they’re top five material? Man GTFO here with that SEC bullshit. There are 2, count em 2, good teams in the SEC, and none of them are on this list.
What I’m trying to point out to you simpletons is that no one stays on top forever. I believe you’re seeing the beginning of the end for the SEC.
Yeah, right. Go Dook!
After reading your above treatise I couldn’t agree more. Why Clemson has lost to a sorry USC team, from a sorry conference, four years in a row, must be the mystery of the ages.
I like a good college football game as well as the next person and always want my favorite teams to win, one of which, who ever is playing Notre Dame. But, some of you people must really not have much of a life at all.
I hear Clowney won’t be playing; he has a hangnail that is really bothering him plus he has a big coloring test on Monday.
I don’t recall Clowney played much in the last Carolina-Clemson game. I will ask Tadj if he remembers.
He hasn’t played most of this year..whats going to change?
Funny… USC fans are the ones always saying that Clemson fans live in the past, yet USC fans only want to talk bout the last 4 years.
You are mighty concerned about Carolina’s DE.
Prediction: Regardless who wins, Columbia still sucks.