Dabo Swinney says South Carolina-Clemson, not Iron Bowl, has 'national implications' this year

The Iron Bowl has typically been a bigger game than South Carolina vs. Clemson from a national standpoint. You can certainly make the argument that that’s not the case this year.

The Gamecocks and Tigers are both ranked in the top-20 ahead of this year’s Palmetto Bowl. Meanwhile Alabama is No. 13 and Auburn is unranked in the latest AP Poll.

Dabo Swinney said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday that the South Carolina vs. Clemson game has more “national implications” this year.

“That’s probably the other difference. The Alabama-Auburn game, my background, always had a little bit more of national implications than this game has had, from a national standpoint,” Dabo Swinney said. “But that’s different this year. This is the game that’s got a lot of national implications. You know, that one down there’s just going to be bragging rights.”

Dabo Swinney is well aware of how important the Alabama vs. Auburn game is to the state of Alabama. Swinney played at Alabama from 1990-92, before being on staff with the Crimson Tide from 1993-2000.

He has also been at Clemson since 2003 and feels that the animosity in the Palmetto Bowl is right up there with the Iron Bowl. Like Alabama, South Carolina does not have pro sports, so everyone grows up either a fan of the Gamecocks or the Tigers.

For the first time in a long time, the South Carolina vs. Clemson game has huge ramifications nationally, in addition to it being important to everyone in the state from a bragging rights standpoint.

“This one’s got a lot of national noise to it,” Dabo Swinney said. “So should be an awesome environment and two really good teams that have had really good years that all want to win. And we’ve got to find a way to get it done.”

The 2024 Palmetto Bowl will take place Saturday afternoon at Noon in Death Valley. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.