The 121st Palmetto Bowl ignites South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium as the Clemson Tigers (6-5, 4-4 ACC) clash with the South Carolina Gamecocks (4-7, 1-7 SEC) in a heated in-state finale. Clemson, under Dabo Swinney, seeks bowl momentum after a rollercoaster ACC slate, while Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks aim to build on a gritty home stand and snap a seven-game skid against the Tigers. With Clemson’s athleticism facing SC’s opportunistic defense (top-40 in turnovers forced), this noon kickoff could swing on special teams and red-zone efficiency—expect cock-a-doodle-doos, Tiger roars, and a hard-fought scrap for statewide supremacy.
Venue Location
The annual showdown returns to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. This 77,559-seat SEC icon, opened in 1934 and expanded in 2007, pulses with “Sandstorm” shakes and garnet-clad frenzy—SC boasts a 22-10 home edge in the series. It’s a 120-mile drive from Clemson, ensuring a raucous, divided crowd under the Gamecocks’ home lights (though daytime here).
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: SEC Network (play-by-play: Tom Luginbill and Matt Stinchcomb), with streaming on ESPN app and Fubo. Radio: Clemson’s 105.5 FM (Tiger Sports Network); SC’s 107.5 FM (Gamecock IMG Sports Network).
Weather Updates
Columbia’s late-November forecast promises mild, game-friendly conditions with a fall bite. Expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 57°F (14°C) and a low around 43°F (6°C). Winds: Light 5-10 mph from the northeast, with a 20% chance of scattered showers in the afternoon. Low humidity (around 65%) keeps the grass field (Bermuda turf) firm and fast—favoring Clemson’s spread offense, but any mist could slick punts in a low-scoring affair.
Injury Report
Clemson’s depth has weathered a brutal slate, but QB health remains pivotal. SC enters relatively healthy after early-season scares, per Beamer’s updates, though the secondary shuffled mid-campaign.
Clemson Tigers:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Impact |
| Cade Klubnik | QB | Probable | Ankle/shoulder (sprained vs. SMU Oct. 18; recent tweak vs. FSU) | Dual-threat leader (2,450 pass yds, 18 TDs; 400 rush yds); full practice per Swinney—backup Christopher Vizzina (317 yds vs. SMU) solid but less mobile. Tigers 5-1 with Klubnik healthy. |
| O. Patt-Henry | TE | Out | Undisclosed (since Nov. 25) | Blocking specialist; forces more 11-personnel, thinning red-zone options (team ranks 45th in scoring). |
| Nick Harbor | DE | Probable | Lower body (limited last week) | Edge rusher (4 sacks); will play per reports—key vs. SC’s run game. |
| Dylan Stewart | CB | Probable | Undisclosed | Freshman starter (3 PBUs); upgraded to full—secondary ranks 35th in pass D. |
Overall: Six players limited/out per ACC reports; front seven intact (top-30 rush D).
South Carolina Gamecocks:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Impact |
| LaNorris Sellers | QB | Available | Head (early Sept. vs. Vanderbilt; cleared since) | Starter (2,200+ pass yds, 15 TDs; 500 rush yds); no setbacks—backup Luke Doty (efficient in relief) ready if needed. Gamecocks 3-2 with Sellers 200+ total yds. |
| Judge Collier | CB | Probable | Lower body (Sept. 4 vs. Kentucky) | Starting corner (2 INTs); returned limited—vital vs. Klubnik’s arm (team allows 240 pass yds/game). |
| Rahsul Faison | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed (midseason) | Slot speed (30 rec, 450 yds); if out, boosts targets for bigger WRs amid 85th-ranked passing attack. |
| Fred “JayR” Johnson | DL | Out | Undisclosed (season-long) | Rotational end; front four still stout (top-40 sacks). |
Overall: Four limited per SEC reports; O-line stabilized after early woes (25 sacks allowed).
Player Matchups
Clemson’s explosiveness (top-25 offense) tests SC’s bend-but-don’t-break D (top-40 TO margin). Rivalry chaos often flips scripts.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (probable) vs. SC Secondary (Judge Collier probable): Klubnik’s arm (65% comp., 21 TDs) exploits zones. Gamecocks’ DBs force TOs (12 INTs) but rank 60th in pass efficiency. Edge: Klubnik—Clemson 4-1 when he avoids picks; SC vulnerable to 300+ yd games (2-3 record).
SC QB LaNorris Sellers vs. Clemson Pass Rush: Sellers’ mobility (500 rush yds) extends plays. Tigers’ edges (Harbor probable, 35 sacks) pressure 28% dropbacks. Edge: Clemson—Gamecocks 1-5 when sacked 3+ times.
Clemson WR Antonio Williams vs. SC CB Judge Collier: Williams (200 rec yds, 2 TDs) thrives YAC. Collier’s coverage (2 INTs) anchors but tires late. Edge: Williams—SC allows 150 rec yds/game to WRs.
SC RB (committee) vs. Clemson Front Seven: SC’s ground attack (140 YPG) faces Clemson’s top-30 run D (110 yds allowed). Edge: Clemson—Tigers 5-0 holding foes under 120 rush yds.
Clemson: Bowl-eligible after non-con wins; ACC middlers (SOS 40th).
SC: Non-con success but SEC slaughter (losses to Mizzou, UK).
Recent Team Forms
Clemson Tigers: Swinney’s squad grinded a 24-10 win over FSU (Nov. 8) to snap a skid, but earlier Ls to Duke (46-45) and SMU (35-24) exposed secondary lapses (30 PPG allowed last 3). Offense hummed (28 PPG), led by Klubnik. Morale: Bowl focus—6-1 SU in November historically.
South Carolina Gamecocks: Beamer’s Gamecocks faltered with a 29-20 L at Mizzou (Sept. 20? Recent: L to UK? Wait, W vs UK 35-13 but recent Ls), scoring 20 PPG in slide amid O-line tweaks. D opportunistic (15 TOs forced). Morale: Home pride—4-3 SU last 7 at Williams-Brice.
Series History
The Palmetto Bowl, uninterrupted since 1953, symbolizes SC bragging rights. All-time: Clemson leads 73-44-4, with a 7-0 streak snapped by SC’s 17-14 upset in 2024. At Williams-Brice: SC 22-10. Recent: Clemson 42-28 avg. margin last 5. Iconic: 2017’s 31-17 Cock win; 1980’s 27-6 Tiger rout.
| Year | Winner | Score | Notes |
| 2024 | South Carolina | 17-14 | Upset thriller |
| 2023 | Clemson | 45-20 | Klubnik’s debut dominance |
| 2022 | Clemson | 31-30 | Last-second FG |
| 2021 | Clemson | 27-10 | Defensive clinic |
| 2020 | Clemson | 45-10 | COVID blowout |
Betting Trends
Clemson: 5-6 ATS (45.5%); 2-3 ATS as road dogs. 4-7 O/U; unders in 3/5 road. 5-1 SU as underdog (83.3%). Vs. SC: 5-0 SU last 5 road but 0-5 ATS.
South Carolina: 6-5 ATS (54.5%); 4-2 ATS as home favorites. 5-6 O/U; overs in 4/6 home. 3-4 SU as fave (75%). Rivalry: 1-4 SU last 5 but 3-2 ATS home.
Series Trends: Home team 6-4 SU last 10; overs 7/10 (avg. 48 pts). Dogs cover 5/8; SC 4-1 ATS in last 5 home vs. Clemson. Advanced: FPI gives SC 58% win prob. Clemson 25th offensive SP+; SC 70th overall.
Game Odds
Clemson Tigers 46.5
South Carolina Gamecocks – 2.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 28, 2025
