Game 12 Preview: Scouting the Clemson Tigers

The stakes surrounding the Palmetto Bowl vary in intensity each year. In 2024, both South Carolina and Clemson were in the race for a College Football Playoff spot. This time around, with the two teams’ postseason fates solidified, little more than state pride and bragging rights will be on the line.

But there’s no denying that, when the Gamecocks and Tigers meet on the gridiron for the 122nd time, they will give it their all in what is always an intense rivalry matchup.

Before the game kicks off at noon on the SEC Network, here’s what Clemson brings to the table.

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How they got here

Expectations in the Upstate, as they were in Columbia, were high to begin the season. Last year, the Tigers reached the 12-team CFP field after winning the ACC Championship Game. They were expected to carry that momentum into the 2025 campaign, opening as the No. 4 team in the country in the AP preseason poll.

Few things have gone to plan since then. Clemson lost its season opener — at home in Memorial Stadium — to then-No. 9 LSU by a 17-10 score. After rebounding the following week with a 27-16 victory over Troy, it lost its next two games to Georgia Tech and Syracuse to drop its record to 1-3. At that point, Clemson had dropped out of the national rankings and hasn’t returned since.

The Tigers have since spent the rest of their season fighting for bowl eligibility. There were some notable setbacks along the way, a 46-45 home defeat to Duke being chief among them. But they are now in the midst of a three-game winning streak, the last of which (a dominant 45-10 win over Furman) clinched at least a .500 record.

Last time out

An interesting trend has emerged over South Carolina and Clemson’s last four Palmetto Bowls. Whenever the two teams have played at Williams-Brice Stadium, the Tigers have left with a commanding victory. But whenever the games have been played at Memorial Stadium, the Gamecocks have eked out narrow wins with big late plays.

It was much of the same — specifically, the latter scenario — in last year’s edition of the rivalry. South Carolina, despite trailing for much of the contest, won 17-14 in a game during which LaNorris Sellers contributed heavily both through the air and on the ground.

The contest wasn’t his most impressive as a passer, as he completed 13-of-21 passes for 164 yards and threw one interception. He was a force to be reckoned with on the ground, though, running for 166 yards and two scores on 16 carries.

One of those scores — a touchdown run on third-and-16 with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter — gave the Gamecocks a late lead. The result was sealed on the ensuing drive when, on a second-and-10 play in the red zone, Demetrius Knight intercepted his lone pass of the season to stall a Tigers drive that could have resulted in a game-tying field goal.

Where they sit in the rankings

The Tigers are not ranked in either the AP or US LBM Coaches polls. They also did not receive any votes in either poll.

In ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI), Clemson is ranked No. 33 with an 8.2 FPI. Its projected record is 6.4-5.6.

In ESPN’s SP+ rankings, the Tigers check in at No. 36 with a rating of 9.2. Bill Connelly gave Clemson a 29.3 rating on offense (61st in FBS), a 20.5 rating on defense (29th), and a 0.3 rating on special teams (38th).

The Tigers sit 46th in the Massey Ratings. They rank 37th in offense and 28th in defense.

ESPN gives Clemson a 36.5 percent chance to win this weekend. The Tigers head into the contest as 2.5-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Players to watch

Cade Klubnik (Senior, quarterback) — The talisman of Clemson’s offense over the past three seasons, he has remained pivotal to the team’s success, even if he is no longer considered a first-round NFL Draft prospect. 2025 has been Klubnik’s most accurate (67.2 percent) season with the Tigers to date. But his 16 touchdown passes are less than half as many as he had last year. Klubnik has also thrown for 2,482 yards and five interceptions on 314 attempts.

Adam Randall (Graduate student, running back) — Randall, a former wide receiver, has seen his greatest production after making a position switch ahead of the 2025 season. On the ground, he has gained 677 yards and scored eight touchdowns on 133 carries. He has still been a strong contributor through the air, catching 30 passes for 247 yards and three more scores.

Sammy Brown (Sophomore, linebacker) — Clemson boasts one of the best front sevens in the country, and Brown has played an important role for that unit in just his second collegiate season. He currently leads the Tigers’ defense in total tackles (82) and tackles for loss (12.5) and is second in sacks (five). Last season, Brown earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Path to victory

The margins in this game, like in most rivalries, will be slim. More often than not, the winner of tight-knit contests like these is the team that executes its game plan to a more proficient degree. For South Carolina to end its season on a high note, it must be that team.

On offense, that means keeping the ball in Sellers’ hands as much as possible. Last weekend’s win over Coastal Carolina showcased what the Gamecocks’ offense is capable of, albeit against a weaker defense — deep balls, designed quarterback runs and greater overall creativity in play calling. Keeping Clemson’s defensive front at bay will be one of South Carolina’s offensive line’s toughest challenges of the year, but the more Sellers can impose his will on the game, the more likely the Gamecocks can come out with a win.

On defense, it comes down to winning the turnover battle — something South Carolina has done much of the year. The Gamecocks have forced 21 turnovers, the most of any SEC team, this season. Their turnover margin in 2025 currently sits at +7. The Tigers, meanwhile, have forced 13 turnovers with a margin of -1. That puts the onus on South Carolina’s front seven and secondary to fly to the football and create opportunities for costly takeaways.

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