If you walked out of Williams-Brice Stadium this past November, you probably felt like you just watched two different games happening at the same time. On one hand, you had a box score that looked like a classic air-raid shootout. On the other, the actual South Carolina vs Clemson score of 28–14 tells a story of a defensive strangulation that left Gamecock fans wondering how 400 yards of offense resulted in only two touchdowns.
College football is weird, but the 2025 Palmetto Bowl was a special kind of chaotic.
The Tigers didn't just win; they exorcised some major demons from the previous year. If you remember 2024, LaNorris Sellers basically ran all over Death Valley like he owned the place, putting up 166 rushing yards in a 17–14 upset. This time around? Clemson’s defensive front played like they had those 2024 highlights on a loop in the locker room for twelve months straight.
The Numbers That Actually Mattered
Honestly, looking at the final stats is a bit of a trip. LaNorris Sellers threw for a season-high 381 yards. In most universes, that’s a winning stat line. But in Columbia that Saturday, those yards were essentially "empty calories."
Clemson’s defense did something that sounds almost impossible: they allowed nearly 400 yards of offense but didn't allow a single third-down conversion until the clock was basically at zero. South Carolina finished 1-for-11 on third downs. That is the definition of "bending but not breaking."
A Quick Look at the Scoring Breakdown:
- First Quarter: A whole lot of punting and nerves. 0–0.
- Second Quarter: The floodgates opened. Clemson struck first with an Adam Randall 10-yard run, followed by a wild sequence where Cade Klubnik fumbled a snap, picked it up, and scrambled 3 yards for a TD.
- The Gamecock Response: Sellers found Nyck Harbor for a 53-yard bomb and later hit Vandrevius Jacobs for a massive 74-yarder.
- Halftime Score: Clemson 17, South Carolina 14.
- Final Score: Clemson 28, South Carolina 14.
The second half was a total defensive clinic by Dabo Swinney's squad. They shut out the Gamecocks for the final 30 minutes. When you're looking for the south carolina vs clemson score, that zero in the second-half column for the Gamecocks is the biggest headline of the night.
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Why Ricardo Jones Is Now a Clemson Legend
If there is one name South Carolina fans will be seeing in their nightmares for a while, it’s Ricardo Jones.
With 13 seconds left in the third quarter, the Gamecocks were knocking on the door at the Clemson 18-yard line. A touchdown there puts South Carolina up 21–20. Instead, Jones snags an interception in the end zone. Momentum, dead.
Then, the dagger. With about three minutes left and the Gamecocks trailing 20–14, Sellers dropped back from his own five-yard line. The pass deflected off Nyck Harbor’s hands—a rare mistake from the superstar—and Jones was right there. He didn't just catch it; he took it 12 yards to the house.
The south carolina vs clemson score jumped to 28–14 after a successful two-point conversion, and just like that, the lights went out on the 2025 season in Columbia.
The Contrast in Seasons
It’s kind of wild to look at where these two programs are right now. Clemson started the year 3–5. People were calling for Dabo's head (again) and talking about how the "portal-less" approach had finally killed the dynasty.
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But they finished with four straight wins. They aren't going to the College Football Playoff, but finishing 7–5 with a rivalry win in the "Cocks' " backyard is a massive bandage on a bloody season.
South Carolina, meanwhile, is in a tough spot. Shane Beamer was visibly frustrated after the game. They finished 4–8. They went 1–7 in the SEC. They have a generational talent at quarterback in Sellers and a freak of nature at wideout in Nyck Harbor, but the offensive line and the inability to finish drives turned 2025 into a "what if" year.
What Most People Missed
A lot of the post-game talk was about the interceptions, but the real battle was won in the trenches. T.J. Parker was a monster. He had 3.0 sacks. One year after Sellers ran for 166 yards against them, the Tigers held him to exactly two rushing yards. Total.
That’s not just a scheme change; that’s a statement.
The Transfer Portal Fallout (Already)
We’re barely into 2026, and the fallout from this game is already hitting the news cycle. Ricardo Jones, the hero of the Palmetto Bowl, has already committed to Vanderbilt. Khalil Barnes is headed to Georgia.
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It’s the new reality of college football. Even after a win like this, the rosters are turning over before the grass in Williams-Brice can even grow back.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're a fan of either team looking ahead, here is what the south carolina vs clemson score actually tells us about the future:
- For Clemson Fans: The "Clemson Defense" identity is still there, even if the offense is inconsistent. Cade Klubnik (who passed Charlie Whitehurst for 5th most wins in school history during this game) is a gritty leader, but the Tigers need more explosive plays that don't rely on fumbled snaps and scrambles.
- For Gamecock Fans: The offensive coordinator search is the only thing that matters right now. Shane Beamer let Mike Shula go because the talent on the field (Sellers, Harbor, Jacobs) isn't matching the points on the scoreboard. They need a system that can convert 380 yards into more than 14 points.
- For Bettors and Analysts: Watch the "Third Down" stat. Clemson's dominance on money downs was the statistical anomaly of the year. If they can carry that situational defense into 2026, they'll be back in the ACC title hunt.
The 2025 edition of this rivalry proved that stats can lie, but the scoreboard doesn't. Clemson found a way to win ugly, and South Carolina found a way to lose pretty.
Next Steps for 2026 Prep:
Keep a close eye on the South Carolina offensive coordinator hire. Whoever takes that job is inheriting a Ferrari in LaNorris Sellers but needs to find the keys to the red zone. For Clemson, the focus is now entirely on the transfer portal to replace the massive defensive holes left by Jones and Barnes. You can track the latest roster moves on the official NCAA Transfer Portal tracker to see how the 2026 Palmetto Bowl rosters are shaping up.