The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Palmetto Bowl

Clemson74-44-4South Carolina
Blue Blood#4 of 138–Power Program III#29 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · time TBA, 24 days away.

Clemson leads the all-time series 74-44-4. They've met 122 times since 1896. Clemson once took 7 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Clemson
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -13
What fans are saying · player performance
fans argue the staff isn't improving players' skills effectively
His coaching staff is littered with former players, several of whom should not be anywhere near a coaching job like CJ Spiller and Tajh Boyd, and they are doing a horrible job of actually teaching these kids how to improve
Verified verbatim
South Carolina
Win total
5.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +19
What fans are saying · nil resources
One fan believes South Carolina overspends on facilities
the University has asked the few people with resources large enough to help pay for Beamer's buy out and the answer was they are all tapped out because of the stadium upgrades.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1896–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeClemsonSouth Carolinaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Clemson won, gray: South Carolina won)1900192019401960198020002020

The identity war

South Carolina has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Clemson led 10 and South Carolina led 13.

more passmore runClemsonSouth Carolina2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262024Clemson 14.5 ptsSouth Carolina won 17-142011Clemson 13.3 ptsSouth Carolina won 34-132004Clemson 11.0 ptsClemson won 29-7
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Clemson by 51 in 1900. The biggest crowd, 85,000, was in 2001.

The coaching duels

Frank Howard vs Rex Enright4-8-1
Dabo Swinney vs Steve Spurrier3-5
Danny Ford vs Joe Morrison3-2-1
Tommy Bowden vs Lou Holtz5-1
Frank Howard vs Warren Giese4-1
Frank Howard vs Marvin Bass2-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
187-116
Clemson leads
1st-rounders
38-15
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
ClemsonSouth Carolina
1960s3-1
1970s11-8
1980s27-10
1990s31-11
2000s24-28
2010s53-30
2020s38-28

Best picks, either side

2021Trevor Lawrence Quarterback · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2014Jadeveon Clowney Defensive End · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1981George Rogers Running Back · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2019Clelin Ferrell Defensive End · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
2014Sammy Watkins Wide Receiver · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
2007Gaines Adams Defensive End · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1979Jerry Butler Wide Receiver · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1982Jeff Bryant Defensive End · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 6#6 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

South Carolina1.11×its own average home crowd
Clemson1.08×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Clemson28-14South Carolina — South Carolina routed by 14
2024South Carolina17-14Clemson — both ranked, decided by 3
2023Clemson16-7
2022South Carolina31-30Clemson — Clemson favored by 14.0
2021Clemson30-0
2019Clemson38-3
2018Clemson56-35
2017Clemson34-10
2016Clemson56-7
2015Clemson37-32
2014Clemson35-17
2013South Carolina31-17
2012South Carolina27-17
2011South Carolina34-13

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Clemson’s chance to win through that meeting. Clemson is 1-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Clemson 28-14Clemson won 28-14 at South Carolina. Chance to win started at 43%, low 30%, high better than 99%.Busy
2024South Carolina 17-14Clemson lost 14-17 vs South Carolina. Chance to win started at 52%, low 24%, high 87%.
2023Clemson 16-7Clemson won 16-7 at South Carolina. Chance to win started at 67%, low 67%, high better than 99%.Busy
2022South Carolina 31-30Clemson lost 30-31 vs South Carolina. Chance to win started at 81%, low 17%, high 96%.Busy
2021Clemson 30-0Clemson won 30-0 at South Carolina. Chance to win started at 77%, low 77%, high better than 99%.
2019Clemson 38-3Clemson won 38-3 at South Carolina. Chance to win started at 94%, low 91%, high better than 99%.
2018Clemson 56-35Clemson won 56-35 vs South Carolina. Chance to win started at 94%, low 87%, high better than 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Broast my thighs and call me Bernie’s chicken. I’ll be goddamned.”
    A South Carolina fan

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.