As a Clemson football fan, there's one team that you truly care about beating above the rest every season. That team is South Carolina.
The in-state rivalry has been one-sided over the course of its history and the Tigers even hold a 7-2 advantage over the past 10 seasons. But with Shane Beamer turning the Gamecocks around in a hurry, it feels like South Carolina is going to make up some ground and it did just last season as it beat Clemson in Death Valley.
Clemson fans still aren't over that one even though their team made the playoff.
Entering the 2025 season, the Clemson vs. South Carolina game should be one of the best non-conference battles of the year and it's going to be circled on everyone's calendar who lives in the state. The state may as well shut down on Nov. 29 because everyone will be glued to the TV.
With more on the line this year than ever before, the Clemson vs. South Carolina game can be considered one of the hottest rivalries in the sport.
Bill Bender of Sporting News agrees with that notion.
According to Bender's ranking of the top 25 hottest rivalries in college football entering 2025, Clemson vs. South Carolina just cracked the top 10 at No. 10. He said that the Gamecocks have won both the ranked matchups over the past 10 years and this season's should be a ranked battle again -- that might not be good news for the Tigers.
Everyone should be keeping an eye on this rivalry as it just keeps getting better every year. Let's just hope Dabo Swinney re-claims the Palmetto State in November.