Game 12 Preview: Scouting the Clemson Tigers

One of the most highly-anticipated Palmetto Bowls in recent memory is now less than 24 hours away.

When South Carolina and Clemson take the field at Memorial Stadium, more than just bragging rights will be on the line. Both the Gamecocks and the Tigers have paths to the College Football Playoff, and a loss will almost surely put either team’s national championship hopes to rest.

Before the game kicks off at noon on ESPN, here’s what Clemson brings to the table.

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How they got here

The Tigers’ 2024 season outlook appeared to be grim after their first game. Clemson faced off against Georgia in the Aflac Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the Bulldogs had their way in both team’s season opener. Georgia bulldozed ahead to a 34-3 win, which remains the Tigers’ biggest defeat of the year.

But the Tigers have gone on a 9-1 run in their last 10 games, with their lone blemish coming from a 33-21 defeat to Louisville in early November. Clemson rebounded quickly from its early-season loss with a dominant 66-20 victory over Appalachian State. The Tigers have since scored 40 or more points in five of their victories – against NC State (59), Stanford (40), Wake Forest (49), Virginia (48) and The Citadel (51). Clemson has picked up additional wins over Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Pitt.

The Tigers earned their most recent victory against The Citadel this past weekend. It was all Clemson that day at Memorial Stadium, where the team jumped out to a 35-0 lead by halftime and held it for the entirety of the game.

Last time out

The most recent Palmetto Bowl did not go according to plan for South Carolina, as it committed two turnovers – a fumble, which was returned for a touchdown, and an interception – on its first three plays. But after holding Clemson to a punt on its first defensive stand of the game, the Gamecocks tied the score with a one-yard touchdown run by Luke Doty.

That touchdown would prove to be the sole source of South Carolina’s points that night, as the Tigers went on to win by a 16-7 score at Williams-Brice Stadium. Spencer Rattler completed just half of his passes (16-for-32) for 112 yards and one interception. Xavier Legette (six catches, 68 yards) and Mario Anderson (13 carries, 35 yards) were the team’s receiving and rushing leaders, respectively.

The Gamecocks’ most recent road trip to Clemson was much more memorable. They stormed their way to a 31-30 victory over a top-10-ranked Tigers team that was still in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Coming off a 438-yard, six-touchdown performance, Rattler led South Carolina’s offense with a 360-yard, two-touchdown display against Clemson. The visitors sealed the win with a late fumble on a punt return forced by Nate Adkins and recovered by Nick Emmanwori.

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Where they sit in the rankings

The Tigers are ranked in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls. Clemson is currently No. 12 in the AP poll after rising five spots from last week and receiving 789 votes. The USA Today Coaches poll pegged the Tigers as the No. 12 team in the country with 780 votes. Clemson was also ranked No. 12 by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee in its most recent rankings.

ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI) ranks the Tigers No. 14 with a 14.8 FPI. Their projected record is 9.7-2.5. The team has a 9.4 percent chance of winning the ACC and a 36.5 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff this season.

In ESPN’s SP+ rankings, Clemson checks in at No. 15.

The Tigers sit 15th in the Massey Ratings. They rank 12th in offense and 26th in defense.

ESPN gives Clemson a 56.8 percent chance to win this weekend. The Tigers head into the contest as three-point favorites, according to ESPN BET.

Players to watch

Cade Klubnik (Junior, quarterback) – Clemson and South Carolina share one main similarity on offense: that much of their success stems from positive quarterback play. Klubnik, now in his second full year as the Tigers’ starting signal caller, is in the midst of his best collegiate season. He has completed 63.9 percent of his passes (234-of-366) for 2,761 yards, 29 touchdowns and four interceptions. Klubnik has also shown some dual-threat tendencies as he can generate big plays with his legs. In addition to scoring five touchdowns on the ground, he has 375 rushing yards on 82 carries.

Phil Mafah (Senior, running back) – While Klubnik is Clemson’s second-leading rusher, Mafah is well in first place. The Loganville, Georgia native is the lone Tigers player with more than 400 rushing yards. Across 181 rushing attempts, he has logged a career-high 1,012 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. A four-year veteran on the Tigers’ roster, Mafah has also involved himself in the team’s passing game this year, with 71 yards on 16 receptions.

Sammy Brown (Freshman, linebacker) – Brown headed into the 2024 season as one of the nation’s top first-year players. He was the No. 22 prospect in the country, No. 2 recruit in the state of Georgia and No. 3 linebacker in the class of 2024, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. Brown has lived up to the hype in his brief time with Clemson, logging 51 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a team-high four sacks.

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Path to victory

It has been a long time since a South Carolina-Clemson football game had such high stakes. Win this game, and the victor will have an outside chance of making the 12-team College Football Playoff field. Lose, and that opportunity to compete for a national title could vanish.

While the Gamecocks enter this game as an underdog, they are in position to pick up an upset win on the road. South Carolina has faced longer odds and still earned a victory at Memorial Stadium. But the team will still have to work hard to get that win.

One way the Gamecocks can do that is by limiting Klubnik’s and Mafah’s abilities to generate large chunks of yardage. Clemson possesses one of the top offenses in the country, which averages 37.6 points and 469.9 yards per game. The Tigers rank 11th and sixth in the country, respectively, in both these statistics. Granted, Clemson’s strength of schedule is not among the nation’s best. But Klubnik and Mafah have the potential to leave their mark on the game if they are not kept in check.

On the other sideline, South Carolina will need to see another strong performance from LaNorris Sellers. The redshirt freshman quarterback has been on a tear during the month of November, throwing for 1,142 yards and 14 touchdowns on 71-of-104 passing, in addition to 242 rushing yards and two more scores on 55 carries. Saturday will mark Sellers’ first Palmetto Bowl, and it may take time for him to adjust to a rowdy road crowd. But this year, the Gamecocks’ offense has been at its best when Sellers also has been. They may rely on him more on Saturday than in games past, as they deal with injuries to key playmakers.

Ultimately, South Carolina must not let the moment be too big for it – in all three phases of the game. Rivalries bring emotion and the potential for undisciplined play along with it. Even in heated moments, the Gamecocks’ players must maintain composure but continue using the rivalry as a source of motivation.

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