One major goal every college football team has entering the season is to beat their biggest rival. This sentiment applies to the Clemson and South Carolina rivalry immensely. It is an old-school southern college football rivalry where one side hates everything to do with the other and vice versa. If that alone does not make this matchup intense, this year’s meeting will have bigger stakes added.
The winner of the 2024 edition of the game dubbed the Palmetto Bowl has a chance to earn an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff. It is not a complete guarantee, but in the latest CFP poll released this week, the Tigers and Gamecocks are ranked in the top 15. One has to believe the winner of this rivalry game should jump enough spots to be in the playoff picture.
Clemson, though ranked 12th in the poll, would be the first team out if the playoffs were to start today. If the Tigers want a better shot at earning a spot in the playoffs without making the ACC Championship Game, they must win against the 15th-ranked Gamecocks.
Gamecocks Make the Jump
One year ago, South Carolina went into the game against Clemson fighting for bowl eligibility. After losing that game 16-7 at home, the Gamecocks finished the season 5-7 overall, missing out on playing in a bowl game for the 2023 season. Fast-forward to 2024, and Shane Beamer has his team walking into their game against Dabo Swinney’s Tigers 8-3 overall and ranked 15th in the CFP Poll.
The Gamecocks have beaten the likes of Oklahoma, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M. Much of their turnaround has to do with the South Carolina defense. The Gamecocks are 13th in the FBS in total defense this season. Even more impressive, South Carolina is 3rd in the FBS in team sacks with 39 total. Edge player Kyle Kennard is responsible for most of those sacks with 11.5 sacks himself. That number not only leads the team, but also the SEC and is fourth most in the FBS.
Kennard did not get the Gamecocks to be one of the best pass-rush defenses on his own though. He’s got some great help from freshman defensive end Dylan Stewart who has 6.5 sacks. This has Stewart tied for the 12th most sacks in the FBS. South Carolina’s pass rushers have made life difficult for everyone they have played. They surely will not let up against the Tigers with all that is on the line.
How the Tigers Win a Playoff Spot
If the Tigers want to stay alive in the playoff hunt, they must beat one of their toughest and most hated opponents. The hardest thing for Clemson in this game is going to be handling the pass rush of South Carolina. The Tigers have had troubles along the offensive line mainly with health. It has caused Swinney and his staff to move guys around and play some young guys on the offensive front. They have held up well the last couple of weeks, but the Gamecocks are going to be much tougher to block than the Citadel.
The pass protection has to do the best it possibly can to keep Cade Klubnik upright. To truly slow down the Gamecocks defensive front though, Klubnik is going to have to help himself. Klubnik can’t get flustered by the South Carolina defense. The worst thing Klubnik can do is start holding on to the ball too long and taking sacks. He also can’t turn the ball over moving too quickly either though.
The most important thing for Klubnik in this game is going to be using his legs. When he turns into a runner, he becomes a much more dangerous player. If the junior quarterback uses his legs to avoid pressure and keep the offense moving, it can help slow down the pass rush. The pass rushers for South Carolina will have to focus more on just containing Klubnik in the pocket rather than getting after him.
The Cade Klubnik Effect
This game is one for Klubnik to show how great of a quarterback he can become. He has to be the guy in this game to lead the Tigers to victory. It starts with being the leader he has been through most of the season. He also has to play with the confidence that has helped put Clemson back in championship conversations.
This Clemson team plays however well Klubnik does. When he has a great game the Tigers look amazing. When he starts playing bad then the team starts to fall apart. This weekend Klubink has to be great in order to prove he and the Tigers belong in the playoffs.
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