Death Valley, Clemson, SC – In a game that could be described as a perfect storm of missed opportunities and defensive struggles, Clemson’s hopes of finishing the regular season on a high note were dashed by South Carolina, as the Gamecocks walked away with a 17-14 victory. The rivalry game was full of drama, and while both sides had their share of ups and downs, it was a late touchdown by South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers that sealed the win for the Gamecocks, handing Clemson its second home loss in a row in the series.
Klubnik Shines, But Offense Falters
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik had a strong individual performance, finishing the game with 280 passing yards on 24-of-36 attempts, adding 62 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His rushing scores—one in the second quarter and another in the third quarter on an 18-yard run—gave Clemson a 14-10 lead early in the second half. The sophomore signal-caller’s performance, which set a new career high in passing yards for the season (3,041).
Despite Klubnik’s strong showing, the offense couldn’t capitalize on several key moments. A missed opportunity to convert a turnover into points in the second quarter was just one of several missed chances that allowed South Carolina to stay in the game. Late in the fourth quarter, with Clemson still leading, the offense sputtered. After the Gamecocks’ go-ahead field goal, Clemson had the ball with an opportunity to seal the game, but the ended the game on a diving interception.
Defensive Struggles Against Sellers and the Ground Game
While Clemson’s defense forced three turnovers—one of which came on a critical strip-sack by T.J. Parker to open the game—it couldn’t contain South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, who ran wild for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Sellers made multiple plays that kept drives alive, with seven rushes for 163 yards. As a team, South Carolina piled up 267 rushing yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
The defense also struggled with missed tackles and blown assignments, allowing Sellers to escape pressure repeatedly. Despite forcing a turnover early in the game and another in the third quarter when Avieon Terrell stripped Rocket Sanders, Clemson could not get off the field when it mattered most. The Gamecocks mounted a game-winning drive late, with Sellers capping it off with a go-ahead touchdown with 1:08 remaining on a 27-yard run.
While defensive players like T.J. Parker (10 sacks on the season) and Khalil Barnes (who added a crucial interception in the fourth quarter) made key plays, the overall defensive effort wasn’t enough to stop the relentless ground attack of South Carolina.
Missed Opportunities and Coaching Decisions
While much of the blame for the loss has been directed at the defense, the Clemson offense also had its share of missed opportunities. After forcing a turnover and getting the ball deep in South Carolina territory, the Tigers could not turn the possession into points. Similarly, after a quick touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, the playcalling turned conservative, with the offense becoming stagnant and unable to establish a rhythm.
Running back Phil Mafah, who had 66 yards on 20 carries, played through what appeared to be a lingering injury, and struggled to make an impact on the outside runs. His inability to break through South Carolina’s defense highlighted the lack of explosion from the Clemson ground game, which, aside from a few solid plays by Mafah, failed to take the pressure off Klubnik.
The decision to not give the ball to a healthier or faster back like Jay Haynes also raised questions, as Haynes’ two carries for 11 yards showed flashes of promise. Meanwhile, the offense had several opportunities to put the game away, but instead, the Tigers managed just two quick three-and-outs in critical moments, handing South Carolina a chance to stay within striking distance.
Special Teams and Field Position Battle
While special teams did not play a decisive role in the game, South Carolina won the field position battle thanks to punter Kai Kroger, who averaged 46.6 yards per punt, compared to Clemson’s Aidan Swanson, who averaged just 37.7 yards per punt. The Tigers failed to flip the field or win the field position battle at key moments, which only added pressure to the offense and defense.
Update: ACC Championship and Postseason Implications
Despite the loss, Clemson’s path to the ACC Championship is still possible. With the Syracuse win over Miami later in the day, the Tigers are still alive in the race for a spot in the ACC title game. However, to make it, Clemson must regroup quickly and prepare for a crucial matchup against SMU in the conference championship.
