Report: Clemson refused ACC, ESPN request to move game vs. South Carolina to Black Friday

South Carolina and Clemson will continue to play on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2024, but if the ESPN and ACC had their way, that wouldn’t be the case.

According to TigerNet, the ACC and ESPN asked Clemson to move the South Carolina game to Black Friday this season. However, CU refused, and the game will remain on Saturday.

TigerNet found that information out by obtaining court documents.

The ACC and ESPN agreed to help Clemson out with its scheduling if the Tigers would move the Palmetto Bowl to Black Friday, but its offerings didn’t persuade the CU administration, including Athletics Director Graham Neff.

TigerNet reports that the ACC and ESPN offered to make the Tigers’ game against The Citadel on Nov. 23 a Noon kickoff, put the South Carolina vs. Clemson game in prime time, make the 2027 Labor Day Monday conference game at NC State a Clemson home game, only make the Tigers play two ACC road games in prime time in 2024 and have South Carolina host CU on Black Friday in the future. However, Clemson declined.

The Tigers leads the all-time series against South Carolina 73-43-4. CU has won eight of the past nine matchups in the series, although they did lose the last time the game was played at Memorial Stadium.

The Gamecocks snapped Clemson’s 40-game home win streak and kept the Tigers out of the College Football Playoff in 2022.

Clemson returned to its winning ways in 2023, though, earning a 16-7 win in Columbia that kept South Carolina from reaching a bowl game.

ACC ‘disappointed’ in Clemson for not playing South Carolina on Black Friday

In a letter to Athletics Director Graham Neff, ACC Senior Associate Commissioner for Football Michael Strickland shared that he was “disappointed” in CU, according to a letter obtained by TigerNet.

“As has been indicated to you during the process, the Conference Office is disappointed in Clemson University’s lack of cooperation on this matter. As all ACC members know, it is incumbent upon the ACC and its institutions to work in good faith with ESPN on football scheduling issues. This cooperation maximizes the value of our relationship with our media partner and strengthens our collective future. Clemson’s decision not to do so in this instance is harmful toward that goal,” the letter reads.

The Palmetto Bowl will take place at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30 this year as Clemson looks to win its second straight game against South Carolina.