HISTORY ON THE LINE: Gamecocks carry 5-game win streak into rivalry game

South Carolina is on a roll, having won five in a row to turn the season around.

Now theyve got a rivalry game on the docket with a bit of history on the line.

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) dives for the end zone past Vanderbilt linebacker Maurice Hampton Jr., right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov.

9, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.

The Clemson Tigers are in a bit of no-mans land as far as their season goes.

A loss to Louisville all but ended dreams of a trip to the College Football Playoff (a road made narrower by a season-opening loss to Georgia), but a rash of upsets this past weekend opened the CFP door a crack.

The Tigers are No.

12 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 .

The Gamecocks are ranked No.

16.

The Gamecocks dropped last years meeting 16-7 at Williams-Brice Stadium.

In the prior season of 2022, a Spencer Rattler-led team went on the road and snapped a seven-game Tigers streak.

Clemson leads the all-time series 73-43-4.

The Gamecocks are in a good place after tearing through the second half of their SEC slate and securing the programs first winning conference season since 2017.

A win against Clemson would be a key capper to what amounts to an important comeback season in the Shane Beamer era.

Getting that victory would let this South Carolina program reach a mark that hasnt been seen around Columbia in a while.

A win would be the ninth of the regular season, which was last accomplished by Steve Spurriers 2013 squad.

All told, only five other Gamecocks teams have reached that mark in the programs history.

This will also be a different test for a South Carolina offense thats surging, having averaged 7 yards per play in the past four games.

Clemson is a talented group that blitzes and mans up often.

Second-year quarterback LaNorris Sellers will also get his first taste of the Clemson rivalry in a formidable road environment.

Clemson has had a good season, but not one quite in line with much of the programs recent success.

The Tigers fell behind the eight ball by losing to Georgia in a high-profile opener.

Then they tripped up against Lousiville.

The Tigers have probably not played well enough to be a playoff team, but they entered the season in that conversation and now need a win and a series of things to go right with other teams.

One question for Clemson has been which version of the offense will show up.

In six blowout wins against worse teams, the Tigers have averaged at a robust 6.6 yards per play or more.

In the other four games, two much closer wins and the two losses, the Tigers offense has not even averaged 5 yards per play.

It remains to be seen if the Gamecocks can keep Clemson closer to the latter number than the former.

South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers : The second-year passer gets his first taste of the Clemson rivalry on the heels of a pretty strong run.

Across the past four games, hes shown more command of the offense and an impressive ability to escape pressure and make things happen.

But Clemsons defense offers a stiff test.

For the year, Sellers has 2,110 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, as well as 489 rushing yards (including sacks) and five touchdowns.

South Carolina running back Rocket Sanders : For much of the year, Sanders success has been a key indicator for the Gamecocks success overall.

When hes busting through tackles and running hard, the offense gets lathered up and moving.

But he can have some tentative moments, dancing into the hole or bouncing outside unproductively.

For the season hes got 821 rushing yards, 268 through the air, and crossed the goal line 13 times.

South Carolina nickel Jalon Kilgore : Clemsons offense will test the Gamecocks in a range of ways, and one of the most key will be slot receiver Antonio Williams creating havoc short and deep.

Kilgore is a likely first option when it comes to covering him.

Hell also have to play a role in the run game in terms of controlling the Tigers power tailback.

In the first 11 games, Kilgore has posted 41 tackles (three for loss) with four interceptions.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik : Tailback Phil Mafah is the workhorse of this offense, but Klubnik provides the spark and direction.

The junior has a strong arm, uncommon mobility and the ability to make spectacular plays, good and bad, on almost any snap.

When hes on, the Tigers are hard to beat, but he can give an opponent some opportunities.

This season, Klubnik has thrown for 2,761 yards and 29 touchdowns (with four interceptions), plus hes second on the team with 375 rushing yards and five scores.

Clemson defensive end T.J.

Parker : The Tigers front has often produced high-level stars, and the sophomore defensive tackle is producing at that level.

At 6-foot-2, 315 pounds, hes sacked opposing quarterbacks nine times, with 38 tackles overall (13.5 for loss) and four forced fumbles.

Its a pretty talented Tigers group, with strong corners such as Avieon Terrell and Barrett Carter as a do-everything linebacker.

No.

16 South Carolina at No.

12 Clemson WHEN: Noon, Saturday, Nov.

30 WHERE: Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson Get local news delivered to your inbox!.

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