Title hurdle: SC stands in way of No. 1 Clemson

We are not here to say we are number one. Unfortunately for South Carolina, Clemson still had Deshaun Watson.

“He missed some throws”.

“Their entire defense is well-coached”, Elliott said.

Tar Heels coach Larry Fedora said his players have steadily built up confidence with each victory, something he expects to peak against the Tigers even with the odds stacked heavily against them. “It’s how we play, and our effort and preparation”.

Thirty-four years have passed since those Tigers brought a title home, but for Clemson fans, the wait for another might be about to end.

STYLE POINTS: Count on Clemson sticking it to SC should it have the chance to protect its place atop the College Football Playoff rankings – and enhance the Heisman Trophy chances of quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“He did hit some third downs”, Gamecocks co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke said. “That’s why we don’t get too distracted by the opponent”. This game isn’t any more important to them than it is us.

That didn’t stop against Clemson as he broke out garnet helmets for the team, something that hasn’t happened since Lou Holtz was running the program.

All that, however, would change in the second quarter.

Clemson Tigers scored 40.6 points compared to allowed 17.6 points with point differential of 23.0. “So, they started trying to pass and mix it up”. “They said that last week”. Fuller four-yard score.

On offense, Swinney’s squad stands among the top 30 teams in the nation in rushing yards (212.1) and passing yards (289.3).

“I’m just looking to be 13-0 next week”, he said. “I thought get the points, go in with a positive outlook coming out of the half and move on from there”. “All I know is SC is going to play their tails off, but so are we”. But Perry Orth and the Gamecocks responded as Orth found Deebo Samuel in the end zone with 7:43 left in the frame to cut it to 21-10.

“This is always a fun week”, Swinney said. “All we can do is just wait and see”.

But Clemson wouldn’t go away.

SC established the lead during a 9-0 run in the first half that was sparked by a technical on Lipscomb guard Josh Williams for yelling at Michael Carrera after a blocked shot. Yet, one key thing I have learned about this rivalry is that most times it’s highly competitive regardless of circumstances. “They gave up a lot of big plays a year ago, we got a bunch of big plays on them, and that’s probably the biggest thing”. The Gamecocks force an Artavis Scott fumble and TJ Holloman would come up with the ball at the Clemson 26.

He scored Clemson’s first touchdown on a five-yard run and broke the game open with a handsome 55-yard touchdown strike to Deon Cain down the right sideline.

But as is so often the way with college football rivalries, there were the Gamecocks, down just 28-25 early in the fourth quarter after a Shon Carson touchdown and two-point conversion. He’s made some big plays for them.