Football

USC-Clemson: Ranking the rivalry's games

The 1963 South Carolina-Clemson game in Columbia had a subdued atmosphere after the assassination of President Kennedy.
The 1963 South Carolina-Clemson game in Columbia had a subdued atmosphere after the assassination of President Kennedy.

1. 1977: Clemson 31, USC 27

Steve Fuller's pass to Jerry Butler spoils Gamecocks' rally

2. 1984: USC 22, Clemson 21

Gamecocks rally, win 10th game of the season

3. 1948: Clemson 13, USC 7

Blocked punt keeps Tigers undefeated

4. 1981: Clemson 29, USC 13

Tigers cruise on their way to national title

5. 1950: Clemson 14, USC 14

USC's Steve Wadiak runs wild; Tigers' perfect season spoiled

6. 1961: USC 21, Clemson 14

USC halts Clemson at the goal line

7. 1980: Clemson 27, USC 6

Tigers safety Willie Underwood sparkles in last of the great upsets

8. 1946: USC 26, Clemson 14

Counterfeit tickets swell overflow crowd

9. 2000: Clemson 16, USC 14

Rod Gardner's catch, or did he push?

10. 1992: USC 24, Clemson 13

USC quarterback Steve Taneyhill "autographs" Tiger paw

11. 1987: USC 20, Clemson 7

Tigers assistant: "Only time I saw a Danny Ford team intimidated."

12. 2007: Clemson 23, USC 21

Mark Buchholz kicks a 35-yard field goal as time expires.

13. 1975: USC 56, Clemson 20

USC quarterback Jeff Grantz accounts for 280 yards, throws five touchdowns

14. 1962: Clemson 20, USC 17

Rodney Rogers' late field goal decisive

15. 2005: Clemson 13, USC 9

Steve Spurrier debuts in the series with a loss

16. 1958: USC 26, Clemson 6

One of USC's best performances in the series

17. 1989: Clemson 45, USC 0

One of Clemson's most dominating games in series

18. 2006: USC 31, Clemson 28

Blake Mitchell completes 23 of 36 passes for 268 yards.

19. 2003: Clemson 63, USC 17

Game over midway through the first quarter

20. 1896: USC 12, Clemson 6

The beginning of a sideshow for State Fair

21. 1939: Clemson 27, USC 0

Tigers' steppingstone to the Cotton Bowl

22. 1900: Clemson 51, USC 0

Tigers coach John Heisman makes impact on budding rivalry

23. 1920: USC 3, Clemson 0

USC uses "sleeper play" to set up game's only points

24. 1978: Clemson 41, USC 23

One of Clemson's best teams finishes regular season in style

25. 1968: USC 7, Clemson 3

Tyler Hellams scores game's lone touchdown on punt return

26. 1979: USC 13, Clemson 9

Tide turns on Jay Feltz's 80-yard punt for USC

27. 1923: Clemson 7, USC 6

Charlie Robinson beats USC for second time with a kick

28. 1956: Clemson 7, USC 0

Tigers attempt no passes, survive after USC fumbles at goal line

29. 1965: USC 17, Clemson 16

Bob Gunnels stops Tigers' 2-point conversion attempt

30. 1902: USC 12, Clemson 6

Postgame riot cancels series for seven years

31. 1959: Clemson 27, USC 0

Clemson's Harvey White shines on last "Big Thursday"

32. 1991: Clemson 41, USC 24

Tigers quarterback DeChane Cameron accounts for 332 yards

33. 1941: USC 18, Clemson 14

USC fans give coach Rex Enright a new car

34. 1994: USC 33, Clemson 7

Gamecocks lateral across field on second-half kickoff

35. 1917: Clemson 21, USC 13

"Big Thursday" becomes part of game's lore

36. 1967: Clemson 23, USC 12

Buddy Gore runs wild for Tigers

37. 1973: USC 32, Clemson 20

USC quarterback Jeff Grantz rushes for 185 yards, passes for 121

38. 1974: Clemson 39, USC 21

Ken Callicutt (197 yards rushing), Willie Anderson (21 tackles) star

39. 1940: Clemson 21, USC 13

Frank Howard wins in first season as coach

40. 1954: USC 13, Clemson 8

Gamecocks win fourth in a row in series

41. 1915: Clemson 0, USC 0

USC uses "ringers" in game of punts and penalties

42. 1928: Clemson 32, USC 0

O.K. Pressley makes a tackle for loss on four consecutive plays

43. 1922: Clemson 3, USC 0

Charlie Robinson's field goal game's only points

44. 1969: USC 27, Clemson 13

Gamecocks dominate, put finishing touches on ACC title

45. 1931: USC 21, Clemson 0

Gamecocks switch to "lucky" red jerseys at halftime

46. 1944: Clemson 20, USC 13

Tigers rush for 302 yards, pass for 0

47. 1964: USC 7, Clemson 3

Reserve Jim Rogers sparks Gamecocks

48: 1972: Clemson 7, USC 6

Jimmy Williamson foils USC's 2-point conversion attempt

49. 1999: Clemson 31, USC 21

Late Clemson touchdown assures winless season for Gamecocks

50. 1952: USC 6, Clemson 0

Tigers lose four fumbles, muster 103 yards

51. 1986: Clemson 21, USC 21

USC misses field goal in final minute

52. 1949: USC 27, Clemson 13

Bo Hagan's 40-yard touchdown pass to Jim Pinkerton is key play

53. 1988: Clemson 29, USC 10

Quarterback Rodney Williams sharp for Tigers

54. 1937: Clemson 34, USC 6

Tigers' all-time great Banks McFadden makes debut in series

55. 1966: Clemson 35, USC 10

Tigers leave USC with 1-9 record in Paul Dietzel's first season

56. 1970: USC 38, Clemson 32

Quarterback Tommy Suggs shines, keeps record perfect against Tigers

57. 1929: Clemson 21, USC 14

Tigers convert fourth-quarter fumble into winning points

58. 1997: Clemson 47, USC 21

Antwan Edwards sparkles with two interceptions

59. 1943: USC 33, Clemson 6

Navy V-12 program boosts Gamecocks' personnel

60. 1976: Clemson 28, USC 9

Tigers give preview of future at end of disappointing season

61. 2001: USC 20, Clemson 15

Gamecocks get first series victory at home since 1987

62. 1935: Clemson 44, USC 0

Tigers record two safeties to start rout

63. 1990: Clemson 24, USC 15

Tigers drive 86 yards in fourth quarter to clinch

64. 1897: Clemson 18, USC 6

Clemson's first win in series before overflow crowd of 2,500

65. 1996: USC 34, Clemson 31

Gamecocks open big lead, survive Clemson rally

66. 1932: USC 14, Clemson 0

Gamecocks limit Tigers to three first downs

67. 1960: Clemson 12, USC 2

Score at halftime is 3-2

68. 1910: Clemson 24, USC 0

Clemson makes use of new offensive weapon: forward pass

69. 1982: Clemson 24, USC 6

Tigers establish command with early goal-line stand

70. 1934: Clemson 19, USC 0

Game moves into new stadium; Tigers begin winning streak

71. 1947: USC 21, Clemson 19

Pete Lane's three extra points - only three he made all year - are decisive

72. 1995: Clemson 38, USC 17

Emory Smith, Emmitt's brother, gains 101 yards rushing

73. 1971: Clemson 17, USC 7

Tigers intercept six passes

74. 1925: USC 33, Clemson 0

13,000 watch Gamecocks roll up biggest margin of victory to date

75. 1899: Clemson 34, USC 0

Tiger becomes prominent part of Clemson athletics

76. 1924: USC 3, Clemson 0

P.J. Boatwright's field goal provides only points

77. 1930: Clemson 20, USC 7

"Special plays" account for two Clemson touchdowns

78. 1933: USC 7, Clemson 0

Harold Mauney sparks Gamecocks

79. 1993: Clemson 16, USC 13

Clemson's Ken Hatfield, USC's Sparky Woods fired after game

80. 1983: Clemson 22, USC 13

Terence Mack's end-zone interception ends USC's chances

81. 1911: Clemson 27, USC 0

Tigers post third consecutive shutout in series

82. 1914: Clemson 29, USC 6

Clemson takes command in second half

83. 1927: Clemson 20, USC 0

Game scoreless after three quarters

84. 1985: Clemson 24, USC 17

Two 5-5 teams playing to qualify for Shreveport, La., bowl

85. 2002: Clemson 27, USC 20

Tigers dominate fourth quarter

86. 1957: Clemson 13, USC 0

Sophomore quarterback Harvey White spurs Tigers

87. 1951: USC 20, Clemson 0

Gamecocks begin four-game winning streak in series

88. 1916: Clemson 27, USC 0

Tigers continue early domination with another shutout

89. 1945: Clemson 0, USC 0

Gamecocks intercept six passes

90. 1909: Clemson 6, USC 0

Trotter races later in afternoon draw bigger crowd

91. 1918: Clemson 39, USC 0

With fair canceled by World War I, teams played on Saturday

92. 1936: Clemson 19, USC 0

Tigers author another shutout

93. 1926: USC 24, Clemson 0

Gamecocks beat Clemson for third consecutive year

94. 1942: Clemson 18, USC 6

World War II takes luster off all games

95. 1938: Clemson 34, USC 12

Enright hired to change USC's fortunes, but Tigers win again

96. 1953: USC 14, Clemson 7

Switch to T-formation does not help Tigers

97. 1913: Clemson 32, USC 0

Tigers post seventh shutout in series' 11 games

98. 1912: USC 22, Clemson 7

Gamecocks claim only victory of the decade

99. 1921: USC 21, Clemson 0

USC keep season's record perfect

100. 1955: Clemson 28, USC 14

Clemson breezes in Enright's last shot at Tigers

101. 2008: Clemson 31, USC 14

In his last home game, James Davis rushes for three touchdowns.

102. 1898: Clemson 24, USC 0

Tigers earn an easy victory

103. 1919: Clemson 19, USC 6

Overflow crowd of 5,000

104. 1963: Clemson 24, USC 20

Subdued atmosphere after assassination of President Kennedy

105. 1998: Clemson 28, USC 19

Tommy West fired before game, USC's Brad Scott fired afterward

106. 2004: Clemson 29, USC 7

Late-game brawl creates ugliest chapter in rivalry

- Bob Spear

This story was originally published November 26, 2009 at 12:00 AM with the headline "USC-Clemson: Ranking the rivalry's games."

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