Clemson coach Dabo Swinney gives first thoughts on Gamecocks, 2025 rivalry game
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is entering his 17th South Carolina game.
It’s arguably his most important one in years.
The Tigers were the preseason No. 4 team in the country after making the College Football Playoff in 2024 and were expected to compete for a championship. Instead, they were 3-5 and 2-4 in the ACC after eight games.
Clemson (6-5) has rebounded with three straight wins to become bowl eligible, but an inconsistent group faces a big challenge on Saturday afternoon in Columbia.
A win gets Clemson to 7-5 and positions the team for a potential 8-5 finish, which would provide some much-needed momentum for a program that faces an uncertain quarterback situation heading into 2026 and could see significant change to its roster and coaching staff.
But a loss would give USC (4-7) and Shane Beamer wins in three of the rivals’ last four meetings and put the Tigers on the verge of their first losing record in 15 years.
Swinney, who is 9-7 (.562) in 16 previous games against South Carolina, gave his first thoughts on the 2025 Palmetto Bowl during his weekly Sunday conference call.
Stopping LaNorris Sellers
South Carolina beat Clemson 17-14 last year for one reason: Nobody on the Tigers defense – except for LB Sammy Brown, who spent almost the entire second half on the bench – could consistently corral USC starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
Sellers ran 16 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns while forcing a stunning 18 missed tackles against Clemson in 2024, primarily on scrambles after passing plays broke down. He had 178 rushing yards excluding sack yardage.
“He was absolutely the difference last year, and he’s still there,” Swinney said of Sellers. “As long as he’s there, they’ve got a chance in any game they play.”
Sellers’ passing stats are way down this year, and his offensive line has been a mess: USC has surrendered 38 sacks in 11 games, which is 131st out of 136 FBS teams. But the burly QB is still elite as a runner, with 598 rushing yards excluding sack yardage and five TDs in 2025.
Any chance of beating USC on the road starts with containing Sellers (6-3, 240).
“He’s a great football player,” Swinney said of Sellers. “A lot of respect for him.”
No extracurricular activity
In 2023, Clemson celebrated a road win at South Carolina by planting an orange team flag at midfield on the South Carolina logo. When USC won at Clemson in 2024, the Gamecocks returned the favor, prompting some pushing and shoving.
Swinney and Gamecocks coach Beamer both spoke out publicly following last year’s game about the dangerous precedent those moments set.
And if the Tigers score a road upset – South Carolina is favored by 2.5 points and has a 63.6% chance of winning, per ESPN’s FPI – there will be no flag planting.
“It’s just not something we need to do,” Swinney said. “We don’t need to disrespect the (other) team’s logo and all that stuff. … When you win the game, celebrate, certainly, but all that stuff, we need to do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen when you’re at the opposing team’s stadium.”
Fixing a forgettable offense
Here’s how Clemson’s pairing of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and starting quarterback Cade Klubnik have fared in two previous meetings with the Gamecocks:
2023 road win: nine points, zero offensive touchdowns, 319 yards, one turnover
2024 home loss: 14 points, two offensive touchdowns, 419 yards, two turnovers
To recap, that’s 11.5 offensive points per game in two outings (Clemson’s lone TD in 2023 was on a fumble return) and two offensive TDs across 24 possessions. On 63 career pass attempts vs. USC, Klubnik has zero touchdowns and two interceptions.
But Swinney didn’t want to reflect on those trends or how to fix them.
“I’m not worried about last year or years before or whatever,” he said. “We’re just trying to have a good practice tomorrow and have a great, great plan this week and see if we can find a way to win the game 3-2, or whatever it takes.”
Another injury update
Swinney announced Sunday that defensive end Jahiem Lawson, one of Clemson’s top three pass-rushers in terms of production and snap count, won’t play vs. South Carolina. Lawson is out for the year after suffering a season-ending ankle injury vs. Furman. Starting TE Olsen Patt-Henry has already been ruled out as well.
This story was originally published November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM.
