November 29, 2014: South Carolina 17, Clemson 35 – Broke the streak
The 2009-2013 editions of this game are harsh memories for Clemson fans. Those five seasons were the longest losing streak for the Tigers against the Gamecocks in the history of this series.
In 2014, a young quarterback named Deshaun Watson won the starting job and began dazzling Tigers fans. He was a natural and made things look easy.
Watson had a hard time staying healthy that season. It started with an injury in spring practice, followed by a hand injury against Louisville, and finally a leg injury against Georgia Tech.
Watson toughed it out and took the field against South Carolina. What Clemson fans didn’t know at the time was that he had a partially torn ACL.
Despite the risk, Watson led the Tigers to victory and ended the streak.
Watson was an instant hero to the fanbase, but he wasn’t the only one who cemented their legacies that day. Artavis Scott single-handedly redefined the term ‘yards after catch’ with his blazing speed out of the backfield.
Watson would go on to have surgery so he could be certain to be ready for the 2015 season, which would see the Tigers go to the College Football Playoff for the first time.