It’s time for a rivalry game.
The South Carolina and Clemson soccer teams will meet for the 119th time on Saturday afternoon. It’s the finale of the regular season for both teams and the first meeting in Death Valley since 2018 due to the game’s cancellation in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Here’s your gameday guide to what’s happening on Saturday.
Game South Carolina vs. Clemson, TV info
Who: South Carolina (7-4, 4-4 SEC) at No. 8 Clemson (10-1, 8-0 ACC)
When: Saturday noon
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson
TV: ABC
broadcast team: Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Molly McGrath
Electricity: Via ESPN or the ESPN app
USC radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (See all USC radio affiliates here)
Clemson radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (See all Clemson Radio affiliates here)
Satellite radio: SiriusXM 137 or 193, Web/App 955
Series history: Clemson leads 72-42-4; The Tigers have won the last seven meetings
Betting between South Carolina and Clemson
Clemson is a 14.5-point favorite against South Carolina, according to the VegasInsider consensus line. That two-touchdown spread is the tightest for a Clemson-USC game in Death Valley since 2014 (Clemson -4.5).
The Tigers previously finished 2016 and 2018 as a 26-point favorite against South Carolina at Memorial Stadium. South Carolina has not been favored against Clemson since 2013.
Clemson, SC Weather Forecast
Saturday’s forecast according to Weather.com: “Showers early, later in the day to a steady rain. High 58F. Wind light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Precipitation near a quarter of an inch.”
Top storylines for the game
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Clemson is on a familiar path this season, with a seventh ACC championship game in eight years due next week and ongoing college football playoff hopes. but South Carolina is also booming, after the upset of Tennessee last weekend. That 63-38 win over the Volunteers was an instant classic, USC’s biggest upset in three seasons and the signature win (so far) of Shane Beamer’s tenure.
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Let’s look at Saturday a battle of (mostly) resurgent quarterbacks. Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei threw nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions and took a lot of heat last season. But he’s stuck to his starting job and led his team to an ACC title shot this year with 27 total touchdowns. And Rattler, a transfer from Oklahoma, is leaving the game of his life. He was 30-of-37 for 438 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions against Tennessee to crush his opponent’s playoff hopes … after getting into the game with eight TDs in 10 previous starts.
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The Gamecocks’ offensive streak was generally down with 606 yards against Tennessee. They scored touchdowns on nine out of ten possessions. Can they hold this up against Clemson? The Tigers are in the major leagues of college football on most key defensive stats: points allowed per game (20.0), yards allowed per game (4.9), opposing third conversion percentage (35%). They also have a number of future pros along their defensive line and 32.0 sacks as a team this season.
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Dabo Swinney is a thorn in South Carolina’s side. After five straight losses to Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks, the longtime Clemson coach has won seven straight since 2014 — and five straight by 21 or more points. Clemson’s seven-game streak is the longest in series history by either side. The Tigers are also driving a 40-game home winning streak into the rivalry game, the longest in ACC history and the eighth-longest in college football history. What’s in Palmetto Bowl #119?
South Carolina vs. Clemson Players to Watch
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South Carolina TE Jaheim Bell: Calling Bell a close end honestly does a disservice to his talents. At 6ft 3 and 232lbs he’s more of a jumbo swiss army knife – and after a mid-season hiatus he’s back at it in full force. Bell carried the ball 17 times for 82 yards against Tennessee, a season-high, and also caught five passes for 39 yards and two points.
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South Carolina DL Tonka Hemingway: If you’re looking for a random impact game, Hemingway is probably your type. Aside from his seven tackles for loss and four team-high sacks, he caught up two fumbles, made a two-point conversion via direct snap, and caught a 16-yard pass to a fake field goal for a first down.
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Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei: After shaky games against Syracuse and Notre Dame, Uiagalelei has gotten back in shape for Clemson. He had 233 passing yards, a career-high 89 rushing yards and two total touchdowns against Miami — stats more consistent with his strong start to the season in seven games than a late slump. Still, turnover problems remain: Uiagalelei had two of them against the weak Hurricanes.
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Clemson LB Barrett Carter: In a defense packed with NFL prospects, Carter could very well come out on top. Swinney calls him one of the “best straight football players” he’s coached at Clemson. The former five-star recruit has 54 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, seven QB pressures, five pass breakups and four sacks in 11 games.
South Carolina depth chart vs. Clemson
offense
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QB: Spencer Rattler (Luke Doty)
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RB: MarShawn Lloyd (Juju McDowell or Christian Beal-Smith)
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WR: Xavier Legette or Antwane Wells Jr.
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WR: Ahmarean Brown or Dakereon Joyner
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WR: Jalen Brooks or Josh Vann
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TE: Jaheim Ball (Nate Adkins)
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TE: Austin Stogner (Traevon Kenion)
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LT: Jaylen Nichols or Jakai Moore
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LG: Trai Jones or Vershon Lee
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C: Eric Douglas (Hank Manos)
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RG: Jovaughn Gwyn (Wyatt Campbell)
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RT: Dylan Wonnum (Tyshawn Wannamaker)
defense
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Edge: Jordan Burch (Tyreek Johnson)
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DT: Zacch Pickens or MJ Webb
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DT: Tonka Hemingway or Alex Huntley
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Edge: Gilber Edmond (Bryan Thomas Jr.)
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MLB: Sherrod Greene (Stone-Blanton)
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WLB: Brad Johnson (Debo Williams)
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Nickel: Cam Smith or DQ Smith
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CB: Marcella’s Dial (Kajuan Banks)
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CB: Darius Rush (O’Donnell Fortune)
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SS: Nick Emmanwori (DQ Smith)
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FS: Devonni Reed or DQ Smith
Special teams
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PK: Mitch Jeter (Alex Herrera)
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KO: Mitch Jeter (Alex Herrera)
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P: Kai Kröger (Alex Herrera)
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LSN: Hunter Rogers (Matthew Bailey)
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SSN: Hunter Rogers or Matthew Bailey
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H: Kai Kröger (William Joyce)
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COR: Xavier Legette (Juju McDowell)
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PR: Josh Vann (Ahmarean Brown)
Clemson depth chart vs. South Carolina
offense
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QB: DJ Uiagalelei (Cade Klubnik)
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RB: Will Shipley (Phil Mafah or Kobe Pace)
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Outside WR: Joseph Ngata (Adam Randall)
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Outside WR: Beaux Collins (EJ Williams)
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Slot WR: Antonio Williams (Brannon Spector)
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TE: Davis Allen (Luke Price)
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TE: Jake Briningstool (Sage Ennis)
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LT: Jordan McFadden (Tristan Leigh)
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LG: Mitchell Mayes (Collin Sadler)
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C: Will Putnam (Trent Howard or Ryan Linthicum)
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RG: Walker Parks (Bryn Tucker)
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RT: Blake Miller (John Williams)
defense
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EN: KJ Henry (Kevin Swint)
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DT: Bryan Bresee or Ruke Orhorhoro
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DT: Tyler Davis or Ruke Orhorhoro
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EN: Myles Murphy or Justin Mascoll
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SLB/NB: Trenton Simpson (Wade Woodaz)
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MLB: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. or Keith Maguire
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WLB: Barrett Carter (LaVonta Bentley)
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CB: Sheridan Jones or Andrew Mukuba (Toriano Pride Jr.)
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CB: Nate Wiggins or Andrew Mukuba
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SS: Andrew Mukuba (RJ Mickens)
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FS: Jalyn Phillips (Sherrod Covil Jr.)
Special teams
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PK: BT Potter (Robert Gunn III)
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P: Aidan Swanson (BT Potter)
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KO: BT Potter (Robert Gunn III)
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LS (PK): Philip Florenzo (Holden Caspersen)
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LS (P): Holden Caspersen (Philip Florenzo)
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H: Drawn Swinney
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PR: Antonio Williams
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COR: Will Shipley
South Carolina 2022 soccer schedule
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Sept. 3: v. Georgia State, 35-14 W
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September 10: in Arkansas, 44-30 L
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September 17: v. Georgia, 48-7 N
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24 Sep: vs. Charlotte, 56-20 W
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Sep 29: vs. SC State, 50-10 W
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8 October: in Kentucky, 24-14 w
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15 Oct: OPEN
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Oct 22: vs. Texas A&M, 30-24 W
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29 Oct: in Missouri, 23-10
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5 Nov: at Vanderbilt, 38-27
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12 Nov: in Florida, 38-6 L
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Nov 19 vs Tennessee, 63-38 W
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Nov. 26: at Clemson, noon, ABC
Clemson football schedule 2022
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September 5: at Georgia Tech, 41-10 W
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10 Sep: vs. Furman, 35-12 W
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Sep 17: vs. Louisiana Tech, 48-20 W
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24 Sep: at Wake Forest, 51-45 W (2OT)
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Oct 1: vs NC State, 30-20 W
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Oct. 8: at Boston College, 31-3 W
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October 15: in the state of Florida, 34-28 W
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Oct 22: vs Syracuse, 27-21 W
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29 Oct: OPEN
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5 Nov: at Notre Dame, 35-14 L
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Nov 12: vs. Louisville, 31-16 W
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Nov 19: vs. Miami, 40-10 W
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November 26: vs. South Carolina, noon, ABC
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December 3: ACC Championship game vs. UNC, 8 p.m., ABC