Carolina-Clemson, by the numbers: Comparing 2003 and 2015 teams

Until this year, South Carolina had not locked in a losing football season since that ill-fated Saturday in 2003.

It was Nov. 22, to be exact, in a game that took place at the Gamecocks’ Williams-Brice Stadium. Clemson won 63-17 in what remains the most lopsided margin of victory in the 112 games played between the teams. The Gamecocks and Tigers, however, were not as different in 2003 as the final score would indicate.

Clemson was 7-4 entering the rivalry contest, with the Gamecocks 5-6 and fighting to earn a bowl bid. Both programs battled uncertainty that season, with a headline in The State during game week that read, “Holtz, Bowden both deserve to keep jobs.” The 2003 game kicked off at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Twelve years later, 2015 is a different story. Clemson is undefeated and No. 1, while USC is 3-8 and searching for a new coach. This year’s contest is a noon kick on ESPN, and the Tigers enter Saturday’s game a 17 point favorite.

Here’s a look at how each team’s 2003 squad compares to its 2015 counterpart, along with a comparison of how Clemson and USC matched up statistically in 2003 and how they stack up this season.

South Carolina, by the numbers

Gamecocks’ statistical numbers entering the Clemson game in 2003 and 2015.

Clemson, by the numbers

Tigers’ statistical numbers entering the USC game in 2003 and 2015.

South Carolina, in 2003

The Gamecocks were 5-6 on the year, including 2-6 in the SEC. USC lost to Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee by a combined eight points. Job security was a story line for Lou Holtz, who was in his next-to-last season as USC’s coach and had back-to-back 5-7 seasons in 2002 and 2003. The Gamecocks were 0-9 those two seasons in games that could have gained bowl eligibility (five-straight losses to end 2002; four-straight defeats in 2003).

Clemson, in 2003

The Tigers entered the USC game 7-4 (5-3 ACC). The four losses were to Georgia, Maryland, NC State and Wake Forest. Tommy Bowden’s future at Clemson was in doubt, especially after the 45-17 loss to Wake on Nov. 1, but the Tigers closed the season with four-straight wins, including over Florida State, Duke and USC, and then Tennessee in the Peach Bowl. (Bowden stayed at Clemson until a mid-season departure in 2008.)

By the numbers: South Carolina and Clemson, in 2003

Stats for each team entering their game in 2003

South Carolina, in 2015

The Gamecocks (3-8, 1-7 SEC) will have their first losing season since 2003. Head coach Steve Spurrier resigned midseason, and USC is 1-4 under interim coach Shawn Elliott. The lone win came against Vanderbilt.

Clemson, in 2015

The Tigers, at 11-0 (8-0 ACC) are No. 1 in the country, will play North Carolina in the ACC championship game and are in position to advance to the four-team championship playoff. It is Clemson’s fifth-straight 10-win season under head coach Dabo Swinney.

By the numbers: South Carolina and Clemson, in 2015

Stats for each team entering Saturday’s game

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Carolina-Clemson, by the numbers: Comparing 2003 and 2015 teams."