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Clemson Football: South Carolina’s upset checklist vs. Tigers

By Shawn Spencer

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Ryan Hilinski #3 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball in the first quarter during their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Ryan Hilinski #3 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball in the first quarter during their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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The Clemson football team will take on in-state rival South Carolina Saturday. How do the Gamecocks pull off an upset? Here’s their checklist.

The Clemson football team comes into the Palmetto Bowl matchup with a perfect 11-0 record and a five-game winning streak over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Tigers are two wins away- one over the Gamecocks and one in the ACC Championship- away from making their fifth-straight CFB Playoff appearance and competing for yet another National Championship.

As much as Clemson football fans want to see a win, it’s that Gamecock fans are just as desperate to see their team pull off what would be the upset of the century in terms of the rivalry.

Each week, Rubbing the Rock tries to give you a post where we breakdown things from the opponent’s perspective.

Here’s what would have to happen for South Carolina to do the unthinkable Saturday afternoon in Williams-Brice Stadium.

South Carolina’s Upset Checklist vs. Clemson:

  • Clemson comes out unfocused or loses focus as the game progresses
  • Gamecocks need high emotion to carry over to momentum
  • Have something bounce their way early in the game, keeping the crowd into the game
  • Force a couple of turnovers/stay turnover free
  • Ryan Hilinksi needs to play out of his mind
  • Need to get the rushing attack going and shorten the game (keep Clemson’s offense off the field)
  • Frustrate the Tiger offense with blitzes and exotic coverages when on the field

If you were going to dream up a scenario where South Carolina pulled off an upset, it would all have to start with Clemson football coming out with a lack-of-focus or the Tigers not maintaining their focus.

Clemson is the more talented team and if the Tigers give the Gamecocks their undivided attention, the depth will take over at some point- even if mistakes are made.

That being said, if the Tigers are looking ahead or they get a small lead and begin to take the Gamecocks lightly, things could fall into place for South Carolina.

After that, the Gamecocks would need to have something early bounce their way (ie a turnover, a momentum-shifting touchdown) to get the crowd into the game and make things tough on that Tiger offense.

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If the Gamecocks are going to have any kind of success, they need freshman QB Ryan Hilinski to play a near perfect game. He can’t make mistakes and needs to get the ball out to his play-makers and hope they can break off a tackle and come up with some big runs, all the while keeping the Tiger offense off the field and making the unit frustrated.

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