Scouting Report: South Carolina Gamecocks

The Palmetto Bowl brings out a different version of both teams, and Clemson knows better than to judge South Carolina solely by the numbers. The Gamecocks have been erratic all season—dangerous in spurts, frustrating in most others—but rivalry games reward volatility and punish mistakes. With Clemson patching together a makeshift offensive line and South Carolina leaning on their usual formula of explosives and takeaways, this matchup has all the ingredients for another tense chapter in the series. The Tigers have the advantage, but only if they take the emotion of the rivalry and turn it into discipline, not chaos. Let’s take a look at the Gamecocks and see what threats they provide:

OFFENSE

Team Production

• 303 total yards/game

• 21 points/game

• 14 turnovers (5 fumbles, 9 INT), 1.4 per game

Passing Game

• 201 yards/game, 60% completion

• Team Pass Efficiency: 127

• Sacks Allowed: 3.8/game (bottom of SEC)

• QB LaNorris Sellers: 206 yds/game, 62%, 8.2 YPA, 140 rating

  • Note: Team efficiency drops sharply when he’s not on the field

• WR Nyck Harbor: 21 YPC, 5 TD — primary explosive threat

Run Game

• 129 yards/game

• RB Rahsul Faison: 43 yds/game, 4.8 YPC

• QB Sellers: leads team in attempts (127) → run-heavy QB usage

• Traditional run game is inefficient; QB run/scramble is primary ground threat

Offensive Summary

South Carolina is a low-efficiency offense with very limited ability to sustain drives.  Their offensive line is a major weakness — near the bottom of the SEC in sacks allowed and poor in run-blocking. Harbor is the only consistent explosive-play threat. Sellers can create with his legs, but the offense collapses if forced into long-yardage situations.

→ Clemson Defensive Strategy

Attack

• Dominate with 4-man pressure. SC cannot protect the QB; Clemson’s DL can win this game

• Load the box on early downs to force 3rd-and-long situations where SC is among the worst in the SEC

Defend

• Bracket Nyck Harbor — remove SC’s only true deep-threat

• Eliminate explosive verticals — SC cannot drive the length of the field without chunk plays

• Maintain rush-lane integrity. Sellers is most dangerous when he escapes; keep him in the pocket and make him read coverage

• Edge discipline vs QB run — loading the box must not give up escape lanes

DEFENSE

Team Production

• 360 yards allowed/game

• 20 takeaways (T-8 nationally)

• Scoring Defense: 23 pts/game

Passing Game

• 215 pass yards allowed/game

• Sacks: 1.9/game (very low)

• Pass Efficiency Defense: 126

Run Game

• Rush Defense: 145 yds/game

• TFL: 5.2/game

Defensive Summary

On the whole, South Carolina is average/below average defensively. However, they survive drives through takeaways.  They give up too many explosives and generate very little pass rush, relying on opponent errors instead of consistent stops. Tackling is solid, coverage is inconsistent, and CB2/slot matchups are vulnerable.

→ Clemson Offensive Strategy

Attack

• Throw early and often. Yardage and efficiency numbers are mediocre, but explosives allowed are high

• Use tempo and spread formations. SC struggles with spacing, communication, and deep-intermediate windows — especially when forced to defend pace

• Target CB2/slot. Deep outs, crossers, and double-moves consistently open up vs their coverage structure

Avoid/Defend Against

• Ball security is paramount. Turnovers are the defense’s best weapon

• Don’t let Dylan Stewart pin his ears back. He’s their one true edge threat — avoid obvious passing downs by maintaining run/pass balance and using quick game

SPECIAL TEAMS

• K William Joyce: 29/29 XPs, 80% FG (all misses 40+ yds)

• P Mason Love: 46 yards/punt, 42 net — high hang, good field control

Special Teams Summary

Love is a field-position weapon. Joyce is reliable from short but questionable at range.

→ Clemson Special Teams Strategy

Attack

• On the edge of FG range, be aggressive on 3rd/4th-and-short — SC is shaky from distance

Defend

• Avoid miscues and turnovers. SC lives off sudden-change opportunities

• Red Zone Offense: 80% scoring, but low TD rate — a major weakness

• Red Zone Defense: 79% — a strength

• 3rd Down Offense: 32% — another weakness

• 3rd Down Defense: 40%

• Penalties: 59 yds/game

• Turnover Margin: +6

• Time of Possession: 28:08 (reflects weak run game & poor 3rd downs)

SITUATIONAL METRICS

Situational Summary

South Carolina is highly inconsistent:

• Weak 3rd-down offense

• Poor red-zone offense

• Low time-of-possession

• High turnover margin keeps them competitive

They cannot sustain long drives and rely on explosives or takeaways to swing games.

→ Clemson Situational Strategy

• Win early downs — force 3rd-and-long where SC collapses

• Aggressive red-zone play calling — SC’s RZ defense is good, but their offense struggles badly to match

• Use tempo throughout — SC’s defense tires and loses spacing integrity

• Protect the ball — prevent SC’s only realistic upset path

FINAL TAKEAWAYS

Where Clemson Should Attack

• Passing game vs SC secondary — favorable matchups across the field

• DL vs SC OL — Clemson’s biggest advantage

• Tempo and spacing — exposes SC’s coverage rules and communication

What Clemson Must Defend

• Nyck Harbor deep shots — SC’s only reliable explosive play

• Opportunistic turnovers — their defense’s strongest trait

• Do not allow Sellers out of the pocket. See the 2024 edition of this game

South Carolina enters this matchup as an inconsistent, turnover-dependent team with clear weaknesses Clemson can exploit on both sides of the ball. Their offense is powered almost entirely by explosive plays from Nyck Harbor and improvisation from QB LaNorris Sellers, but struggles badly to sustain drives behind a leaky offensive line. Defensively, the Gamecocks rely on takeaways to survive, giving up chunk plays and generating little pressure. For Clemson, this game presents a favorable set of matchups—particularly in the trenches and in the passing game—so long as the Tigers protect the football and limit Harbor’s vertical impact.