So, you’re looking for the score of the South Carolina football game, and honestly, the answer depends on which "South Carolina" you’re actually tracking or how far back you're looking. If you are talking about the South Carolina Gamecocks (the SEC squad), their 2025 season wrapped up with a bit of a thud on November 29, 2025.
The final score of that rivalry matchup against Clemson was 28-14 in favor of the Tigers.
It wasn't exactly the Hollywood ending Shane Beamer was hoping for at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks finished the year with a 4-8 record, a mark that has sparked a lot of conversation in Columbia about where the program is headed. But wait—if you were looking for the other "South Carolina" in the state, South Carolina State actually had a much more thrilling finish to their year. They played in the Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl on December 13, 2025, and pulled off a wild 40-38 win over Prairie View A&M in quadruple overtime.
Talk about a heart-stopper.
Breaking Down the Gamecocks' Finale vs. Clemson
The score of the South Carolina football game against Clemson really came down to one thing: mistakes. You can't turn the ball over five times against a Top-20 team and expect to walk away with a trophy. LaNorris Sellers, who had been a bright spot for much of the season, struggled to find a rhythm under the relentless pressure of the Clemson front four.
Basically, the Gamecocks couldn't stay on the field. They went 1-for-11 on third-down conversions. That is a brutal stat line. When you only convert roughly 9% of your third downs, your defense is going to get gassed. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Clemson ground game was just chewing up clock and yards.
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Despite the 28-14 score, there were moments where it felt closer. South Carolina actually had a chance to pull within one score with about four minutes left, but a late interception sealed the deal. It was a microcosm of their entire 2025 campaign—plenty of "what ifs" and "almosts," but not enough execution when the lights were brightest.
Why the 2025 Record is Misleading
Looking at a 4-8 record, it’s easy to say the wheels came off. But you’ve got to look at the schedule. The SEC is a meat grinder. The Gamecocks had to navigate a stretch that included Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, and Texas A&M.
They lost a heartbreaker to Texas A&M (31-30) by a single point.
They pushed Alabama (29-22) to the brink.
They even beat Virginia Tech 24-11 to start the year with high hopes.
The season didn't lack talent. Rocket Sanders and LaNorris Sellers showed flashes of brilliance that suggest 2026 could be a completely different story. In fact, rumors are already swirling about coaching staff changes. Shane Beamer recently elevated Trey Money to lead the entire linebackers corps, signaling a shift in how they plan to handle the defensive side of the ball moving forward.
A Quick Look at the 2025 Results
If you're trying to remember how they got here, here is a quick rundown of the notable scores from the tail end of the season:
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- Nov 29: Clemson 28, South Carolina 14 (The Finale)
- Nov 22: South Carolina 51, Coastal Carolina 7 (The blowout win)
- Nov 15: Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 30 (The heartbreaker)
- Nov 1: Ole Miss 30, South Carolina 14
South Carolina State: The Bowl Game Victory
While the Gamecocks sat at home during bowl season, the South Carolina State Bulldogs were making waves. Their 40-38 victory in the Celebration Bowl is already being called one of the best games of the 2025-26 bowl cycle.
It was a back-and-forth affair that eventually landed in the hands of the kickers and the "go for two" rules of overtime. Winning that game gave the Bulldogs a 10-3 record for the season. For fans in Orangeburg, it was the perfect exclamation point on a dominant year.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Gamecock Offense
There’s this narrative that the offense was the sole reason for the losses. While the score of the South Carolina football game often looked low, the yardage was frequently there. The issue was the "Red Zone" or, as some fans started calling it, the "Dead Zone."
The Gamecocks were statistically one of the worst teams in the SEC at converting trips inside the 20-yard line into touchdowns. They settled for field goals too often, and in this era of college football, you just can't field-goal your way to a winning record against teams like Georgia or Alabama.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Outlook
The good news? LaNorris Sellers is expected to be back under center in 2026. Having a returning starter at QB in the SEC is worth its weight in gold.
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The schedule doesn't get much easier, though. They open 2026 with three straight home games against Kent State, Towson, and Mississippi State. That’s a prime opportunity to build some early momentum before the real heavy hitters show up on the calendar.
If you're a fan, you're looking for more consistency. The 51-7 win over Coastal Carolina showed what this team looks like when they play clean football. The challenge for Beamer is making that the standard rather than the exception.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the Gamecocks or the Bulldogs, here is what you should be watching over the next few months:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: With the season over, keep an eye on who is leaving and, more importantly, which big-bodied linemen the Gamecocks are trying to bring in to protect Sellers.
- Spring Game Dates: Usually held in April, the Garnet & Black Spring Game will be the first look at the "revamped" coaching staff and any new early enrollees.
- SCSU Momentum: Watch if South Carolina State can capitalize on their bowl win for recruiting. They’ve become the premier destination for HBCU talent in the region.
The final score of the South Carolina football game might have been a disappointment for the Gamecocks in November, but the foundation for 2026 is already being poured. Whether it's through staff changes or the maturation of young stars like Nyck Harbor, the off-season in Columbia is going to be anything but quiet.