The greatest rivalry in college football is already in midseason form, and a new take from a national analyst is officially stoking the flames! According to CBS Sports' Will Backus, the preseason polls have it all wrong: Clemson is severely underrated at No. 6, while South Carolina's No. 13 ranking is "a bit too bullish" and "overrated."
The last time both sides of this bitter in-state rivalry were ranked in the preseason top 15 was in 2013, when South Carolina was No. 7 and Clemson was No. 8. Now, with both teams returning to the national conversation, Backus is taking a firm stance, arguing that the Tigers' consistent success should elevate them beyond the Coaches Poll's No. 6 ranking.
"Clemson did receive two first-place votes, but it still landed behind Georgia and Notre Dame outside of the top five," Backus wrote in his rankings breakdown. "There's plenty of reason to be much higher on the Tigers... Dabo Swinney's dynasty is not over."
Backus's praise for Clemson is rooted in their returning talent. He highlights Cade Klubnik as a "first-round NFL Draft prospect with Heisman potential," and a Tigers offense that returns "one of the best wide receiver units in the nation" and an experienced offensive line. On defense, Clemson is "loaded with future professional talent" like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, with the team's overall returning production ranking first nationally.
Conversely, Backus sees a starkly different story in Columbia. "The offseason South Carolina hype is getting a bit out of hand," he warned, despite acknowledging that the Gamecocks have premier stars in Heisman contender LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart.
Backus points to several "serious question marks" that he believes belie South Carolina's top-15 ranking, including:
- A gaping hole at wide receiver outside of Mazeo Bennett Jr.
- Uncertainty over running back Rahsul Faison's eligibility.
- Having to replace three NFL Draft picks along the defensive line.
While South Carolina has won two of the last three meetings in the rivalry, Backus's critique is fueled by a deeper look at their 2024 season, which saw them finish 9-4 after a Citrus Bowl loss to Illinois and still somehow get ranked ahead of several teams that made the 2024 College Football Playoff and conference championship games.
The debate is set, and the stage is now set for a season-long clash of expectations. Clemson's talented roster will have to prove it belongs in the top five, while South Carolina's stars will have to prove their hype is real. Their final showdown on November 29th at Williams-Brice Stadium is poised to be one of the most consequential rivalry games in recent memory.