COLUMBIA — There is a lot on the line for South Carolina football as it takes on Clemson on Saturday (noon, ESPN) in Memorial Stadium.
If the No. 14 Gamecocks (8-3) get to nine wins, it will be the most in coach Shane Beamer’s four season, and they will be just the eighth team in program history to win nine or more games.
South Carolina can only think about extending its season even further if it beats the No. 12 Tigers (9-2) and Clemson also needs a win Saturday to keep its CFP hopes alive.
Here’s what to know about this year’s matchup, in a series where Clemson leads South Carolina 73–43–4.
Clemson football’s offense and defense: The basics
Clemson has an ACC-best 195.3 rushing yards per game, and Phil Mafah has 1,012 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Antonio Williams has a team-high 689 receiving yards on 58 receptions to go with 10 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers force a lot of turnovers. They have seven fumble recoveries and 13 interceptions. Defensive end T.J. Parker has four forced fumbles and nine sacks, and defensive lineman Peter Woods has three sacks.
They’re allowing an average of 210.8 passing yards. Against the run, the Tigers have struggled at times. LaNorris Sellers and Rocket Sanders may take advantage as Clemson is allowing 139.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 55 nationally.
Clemson injuries could impact Cade Klubnik vs South Carolina pass rush
Clemson starting LT Tristan Leigh and LG Marcus Tate are day to day according to coach Dabo Swinney. Tate has missed past three games, Leigh has missed the past two.
Cade Klubnik was sacked nine times in two games without Tate and Leigh against Virginia Tech and Pitt and now faces a South Carolina team that is No. 3 in the country in sacks with 39.
Gamecocks edge rusher Kyle Kennard leads the SEC with 11.5 sacks. South Carolina ranks No. 17 nationally in third down conversions at 32%.
South Carolina defensive backs Nick Emmanwori and Jalon Kilgore are tied for first in the FBS with four interceptions, with O’Donnell Fortune right behind with three.
LaNorris Sellers and Cade Klubnik: QB comparison
LaNorris Sellers
- Last game: 23-of-27 passing for 307 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, two sacks, 53 rushing yards on 13 carries.
- This season: 159-of-244 passing for 2,110 yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions, 28 sacks, 489 rushing yards on 139 carries.
Cade Klubnik
- Last game: 12-of-16 passing for 198 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions
- This season: 234-of-366 passing for 2,761 yards, 29 touchdowns, four interceptions, 16 sacks, 82 carries for 375 rushing yards
South Carolina score prediction vs Clemson
South Carolina 30, Clemson 27: The Gamecocks are the strongest they’ve been in the last four years, and finish the regular season with a sixth-straight win.
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin