Look: Clemson football player plants flag at midfield after beating South Carolina

The Clemson football team took things into its own hands after being rival South Carolina on the road Saturday. Literally.

After the Tigers’ 16-7 win over the Gamecocks, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. took a Clemson flag, ran to midfield, swung it and planted it on the USC logo at the 50-yard line of Williams-Brice Stadium.

Trotter’s gesture, which was similar to one former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield did after beating Ohio State at Ohio State in 2017, quickly went viral on social media after another tense edition of the Palmetto Bowl.

It was Clemson’s eighth win over in-state rival South Carolina in nine tries. The Gamecocks beat the Tigers in Memorial Stadium last year, 31-30, to deprive Clemson of a likely College Football Playoff bid.

Clemson moved to 8-4 with its win Saturday and dropped USC, which was seeking a sixth win and bowl eligibility, to 5-7 with its home loss.

This story was originally published November 25, 2023 at 11:21 PM.

Chapel Fowler

The State

Chapel Fowler, the NSMA’s 2024 South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year, has covered Clemson football and other topics for The State since summer 2022. His work’s also been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the South Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Press Association. He’s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and a pickup basketball enthusiast. Support my work with a digital subscription