FAIREY CHEVROLET Drive to the Palmetto Bowl: Everything you need to know ahead of South Carolina's rivalry matchup with Clemson

South Carolina earned its first win since September on Saturday, a 51-7 beatdown of the in-state Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Shane Beamer’s team now holds a 4-7 overall record and a 1-7 mark in Southeastern Conference play.

The Gamecocks have one game left on the schedule, and for many, it’s the one that has been at the forefront of thought since last season ended. The 122nd edition of the Palmetto Bowl will take place this weekend as South Carolina hosts Clemson at Williams-Brice Stadium.

For USC fans, the drive to George Rogers Boulevard will be a short one for the season finale.

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Here’s what you need to know heading into the South Carolina-Clemson matchup. (GamecockCentral will release a Clemson preview later in the week.)

The resumes

• After being ranked in the top 10 earlier this season, South Carolina is not even in the “also receiving votes” portion of the polls heading into this week; that has been true for nearly two months now. Clemson’s 2025 story is almost identical. The Tigers were fourth in the preseason AP poll and fell out in week four, the same week the Gamecocks dropped.
• South Carolina’s standing in the ESPN FPI (Football Power Index) improved from last week, despite playing a lower-level opponent. USC jumped two spots to No. 27 overall. The Gamecocks also flew upward in offensive efficiency to No. 78 nationally. Defensively, they ascended to No. 18 in the country. Special teams remains in the top 10, slotting in at No. 7 in college football. Clemson (No. 33 in the FPI) enters the weekend ranked No. 50 on offense, No. 44 on defense, and No. 98 on special teams.
• Last season, South Carolina went 9-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. Clemson went 10-4 and 7-1 in the ACC before winning the ACC Championship Game and losing in the College Football Playoff to Texas. So far this year, the Gamecocks are 4-7 (1-7), while the Tiges are 6-5 (4-4).
• The Gamecocks put quarterback LaNorris Sellers, EDGE Dylan Stewart, and DB Jalon Kilgore on the preseason All-SEC squad. Meanwhile, quarterback Cade Klubnik, wide receivers Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco, offensive linemen Blake Miller, Walker Parks, and Ryan Linthicum, EDGE TJ Parker, defensive tackle Peter Woods, linebackers Sammy Brown and Wade Woodaz, and cornerback Avieon Terrell made the preseason All-ACC team. Klubnik was also the league’s preseason Player of the Year.

Recent news

• In game 11, South Carolina beat Coastal Carolina, 51-7, in the second of three in-state contests this season.
• Clemson also won a Palmetto State showdown, knocking off Furman, 45-10.
• Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer let go of offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley following the LSU loss. Tight ends coach Shawn Elliott has shifted over to lead the position room, taking over a role he held for seven years under head coaches Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp. Former analyst Ben Burress has since taken over as the team’s tight ends coach.
• Following the Ole Miss loss, Beamer also fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula. Wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Mike Furrey has been the Gamecocks’ interim playcaller. Tight ends coach/run game coordinator/interim offensive line coach Shawn Elliott has had an increased role in the weekly game planning. The same is true of the rest of the offensive staff, per Beamer. Assistant quarterbacks coach Davis Koetter and Furrey have increased their work with the QBs.
• Clemson has not made any coaching changes, but word behind the scenes is that change is coming on Dabo Swinney’s staff.

Updates from the coaches

• South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer spoke to the media earlier this week.
  • During Beamer’s press conference, he shared a few things:
    • Beamer gave a positive update on the injury status of stars Nyck Harbor and Dylan Stewart.
    • The Gamecock headman talked up the Clemson defense, saying the Tigers have “a lot of talent” on that side of the football.
    • You can see everything that Beamer said here.
• The Gamecock coordinators will speak to the media on Wednesday. This story will update with their quotes.
• Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney also spoke to the media this week. This story will update with his quotes.
• Defensive line coach Travian Robertson, who was involved in a serious car accident this preseason, has recently gotten more involved with team activities. While he remains in a reduced role, defensive assistant Jordan Dove and assistant strength coach Jamil Walker have stepped into bigger roles. Robertson had his final surgery recently and coached (from the press box) for the first time this year against Coastal Carolina.
• South Carolina had a new offensive coordinator this season, as Mike Shula, who was an analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024, took over for Dowell Loggains, who is now the head coach at Appalachian State. The Gamecocks have changed that again, as Mike Furrey is the interim playcaller following Shula’s dismissal. Similarly, Clemson has a new defensive coordinator, as Tom Allen took over the defense ahead of the 2025 season.

Notes on game 12

• South Carolina and Clemson have played every year, other than the Covid-affected 2020 season, since 1909. The Palmetto State rivals have played 121 total times. Clemson leads the all-time series, 73-44-4.
• The two in-state programs have won the road games every year since Clemson won at home in 2018.
• Barring an unexpected 5-7 bowl invitation, Saturday will also be the last home game for (at least) the 23 seniors honored last week on USC’s Senior Day. Those names included Oscar Adaway III, Nick Barrett, Jared Brown, Colin Bryant, Demon Clowney, Andrew Colasurdo, Jordan Dingle, Luke Doty, Bradley Dunn, Rahsul Faison, Monkell Goodwine, Jatius Geer, Nathan Harris-Waynick, William Joyce, Buddy Mack III, Chase McCracken, Rodney Newsom Jr., Cole Rasmussen, Eriq Rice, Larry Scott, DQ Smith, Chase Sweigart, and Bryan Thomas Jr.

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History

• South Carolina and Clemson have played every year, other than the Covid-affected 2020 season, since 1909. The Palmetto State rivals have played 121 times. Clemson leads the all-time series, 73-44-4.
• The Gamecocks have won two of three in the series, including last year’s 17-14 victory.
• Shane Beamer holds a 2-2 record against the Tigers and has alternated end results (loss in 2021, win in 2022, loss in 2023, win in 2024).
• South Carolina is 2-0 this season against teams from the Palmetto State. The Gamecocks beat SC State, 38-10, in September and Coastal Carolina, 51-7, last week.
• You can read about some of the Gamecocks’ best moments in the modern history of the rivalry here.

Injuries

• On Tuesday, head coach Shane Beamer provided some injury updates during his press conference and then again on his call-in show.
  • Beamer said, “I certainly don’t want to jinx us because we’re doing this on Tuesday and we’ve got two more days of practice, but as of right now, everybody’s good to go.”
  • Nyck Harbor and Dylan Stewart, neither of whom played against Coastal, were back at practice.
  • Brandon Cisse, who left the Texas A&M game with an injury but played a somewhat limited role against Coastal, also practiced.
  • Jalewis Solomon is back at practice in a limited capacity but would likely hold a “doubtful” designation.
• There will be no SEC-mandated availability report for the rest of the season. The Clemson game is an out-of-conference matchup.
• EDGE players George Wilson, Kobby Sakyi-Prah, and Jaylen Brown have long-term injuries. So do defensive back Zahbari Sandy, offensive lineman Cason Henry, and defensive lineman Caleb Williams.

Depth chart movement for the Gamecocks

• South Carolina posted a new depth chart. You can see the entire depth chart from two weeks ago here.
  • Most of the depth chart movement this season has come after the Gamecocks have already altered the rotation. That happened again following the Coastal Carolina game. The changes from the last updated depth chart (following the Ole Miss game) to now (following the Coastal Carolina game) are below.
    • At running back, there is a four-man group of Rahsul Faison, Matt Fuller, and Oscar Adaway have been listed as co-starters, but Jawarn Howell joined them this week. Howell’s role has increased significantly the last two games.
    • On the offensive line, there are no longer any co-starters, and the team made official moves at left guard and right tackle. Now, Nick Sharpe is the starter at left guard with Rodney Newsom as his backup. Shed Sarratt is the starter at right tackle, with Tree Babalade his backup. Nolan Hay, who hasn’t played in a while despite being listed as a co-starter at center, is now Boaz Stanley’s backup. It is worth noting that Rodney Newsom has played over Hay recently, however.
    • There were no changes to the defensive depth chart, except Damarcus Leach replaced Myles Norwood as the backup to Judge Collier at one cornerback spot.

How to watch/listen

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Television/Streaming

The Gamecocks and Tigers will play on SEC Network this weekend while the ESPN app makes the contest available via streaming, as well. Kickoff is set for noon.

The SEC Network crew will include Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline reporter).

Radio

Nationally, Sirius XM will have the game available on channel 161 or 190.

Locally, Todd Ellis (play-by-play), Tommy Suggs (analyst), and Chet Tucker (sideline reporter) will be on 107.5 The Game.

Fans can also stream the radio broadcast on the 107.5 The Game app.

Local radio affiliates include:

Aiken/Augusta, GA WYBO-FM 92.9
Allendale WDOG-FM 93.5
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-AM 1350
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-FM 96.1
Camden WCAM-AM 1590
Charleston WTMZ-FM 98.9
Chesterfield WVSZ-FM 107.3
Columbia WNKT-FM 107.5
Florence WFRK-FM 95.3
Gaffney WZZQ-AM 1500
Gaffney WZZQ-FM 104.3
Greenville WROO-FM 104.9
Greenwood WCZZ-AM 1090
Marion, N.C. WBRM-AM 1250
Marion, N.C. WBRM-FM 103.9
Myrtle Beach WSEA-FM 100.3
Newberry WKDK-AM 1240
Rock Hill/Lancaster WRHM-FM 107.1
Spartanburg WSPG-AM 1400
Spartanburg WSPG-FM 98.3
Sumter WIBZ-FM 95.5
Union WBCU-AM 1460
Union WBCU-FM 103.5

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