Clemson Completes Undefeated Regular Season

Recap

BOX SCORE

Completing its seventh undefeated regular season in school history, the No. 2/2 Clemson football team defeated in-state rival South Carolina, 56-35, on a cold and foggy Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Tigers’ fifth straight in the series, Clemson improved to 12-0 overall, while South Carolina moved to 6-5 on the year.

The Tigers posted a season-high 744 yards of offense against the Gamecocks, the 4th-highest total in school history. Trevor Lawrence amassed a career-high 393 passing yards on 27 completions in 36 attempts, including eight straight completions for 106 yards to open the game. His passing yard total was also the program’s highest ever against South Carolina. His favorite targets were Tee Higgins, who totaled 142 yards with a score in six receptions, and Hunter Renfrow, who was on the receiving end of a pair of 20-plus-yard passes on third down to keep two Tiger drives alive.

On the ground, Travis Etienne added 150 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, and Adam Choice ran for three scores in just seven carries. Defensively, Isaiah Simmons led the team with seven solo tackles, and J.D. Davis hauled in his first career interception.

Game Notes

• Clemson’s 744 yards were their most against South Carolina in series history, surpassing the 622 yards gained by Clemson in the 2016 contest. It ranks third in a single game in Clemson history, trailing 756 against Wake Forest in 1981 and 754 against NC State in 2012.
• Clemson gained 393 passing yards and 351 rushing yards. It marked Clemson’s first time exceeding 300 yards in both categories in a single game since the 2017 season opener against Kent State. It was Clemson’s fourth such game under head coach Dabo Swinney (Duke in 2012, NC State in 2012, Kent State in 2017).
• The game marked Clemson’s first time posting both 300 passing yards and 300 rushing yards against South Carolina in series history.
• Clemson recorded a school-record three touchdown drives of 95 yards or more, scoring on drives of 95, 97 and 98 yards in the game. It marked Clemson’s first time posting multiple drives of 95 yards or more since recording two against Wake Forest on Oct. 7, 2006.

Pregame Photos

Photos by Carl Ackerman, David Platt, Dawson Powers and Madison Williams.