The Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead with a touchdown pass from Spencer Rattler to Jaheim Bell. Clemson responded with a touchdown drive of their own, but South Carolina extended its lead to 21-10 at halftime thanks to a 1-yard touchdown run by MarShawn Lloyd.
In the third quarter, Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei connected with Cole Turner for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-17. However, the Gamecocks answered back with a 43-yard field goal to make it 24-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
With just over 11 minutes remaining in the game, Will Shipley rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the score at 24-24. However, South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, giving the Gamecocks the lead once again.
The loss drops Clemson to 10-2 on the season and severely damages their chances of making the CFP. The Tigers entered the game ranked seventh in the CFP rankings, but they are likely to drop out of contention following the upset.
“This is a tough one to swallow,” said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. “We didn’t play our best game, and South Carolina deserves all the credit.”
“We’re not going to give up on our goals,” added Uiagalelei. “We still have a lot to play for, and we’re going to fight until the very end.”
Clemson will look to bounce back next week when they host the 10th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels at home. A win against North Carolina would keep the Tigers’ ACC title hopes alive, but their CFP dreams are likely over.
Meanwhile, South Carolina’s victory marks a major upset for the program. The Gamecocks are now 8-4 on the season and have a chance to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2018.