While it was close in the first half, Clemson pulled away in the second half to finish off the rival Gamecocks by a score of 56-35. 
It was more of an offensive battle than most pundits were predicting. Both offenses had over 550 yards and combined for 13 touchdowns, though they each accomplished it in different ways. Clemson prioritized using the ground game while South Carolina primarily aired it out. Jake Bentley even became South Carolina’s all-time leading passer during this game setting a career high in passing yards. Travis Etienne had two rushing touchdowns to increase his total to 19 in 12 games which is a Clemson record. 
Defensively, both sides struggled in the first half. Despite the fact that Clemson ranks number one in the FBS in third down conversion percentage allowed a 50 percent conversion rate to the Gamecocks. 
Clemson won the toss and chose to defer. The Gamecocks happily obliged and scored a touchdown on their first drive. Senior receiver Deebo Samuel caught the nine-yard touchdown catch to put South Carolina up early. 
The tale for Clemson’s offense was controlling the clock on the ground and turning bad field position into touchdowns. Clemson’s first four drives covered 70 yards or more and ended in a touchdown. On their first drive, Clemson had only one third down. Lawrence either found open receivers or the running backs hit the open lanes and kept taking chunks out of the South Carolina defense. Adam Choice punched it in from the one-yard line, his first of three rushing scores of the night, to tie it up at seven apiece. 
South Carolina’s next two drives ended in a punt and a failed attempt on fourth-and-goal. Clemson’s next two were scoring drives of 95 and 97 yards. Clemson set its season record for scoring drive length three times tonight. 
The Tigers’ third touchdown was a Christian Wilkins rushing touchdown, his second of the year, on a toss. Wilkins nearly hurdled Gamecock linebacker Sherrod Greene, instead going head over heels for the score. The “Fridge Package” has now produced three rushing touchdowns by a defensive lineman this season. 
With the Tigers up 21-7, it was starting to look like Clemson would blowout their in-state rival. Jake Bentley was having none of that. After they quickly got to third down, Bentley found a wide open Kiel Pollard for a 67-hard touchdown. Pollard had burned Clemson safety K’Von Wallace and received a perfectly thrown ball for the catch-and-score. 
Clemson immediately answered with a two-yard run by Adam Choice that was set up by a 32-yard scramble from Trevor Lawrence. Not to be outdone, the Gamecocks received the ensuing kickoff, allowed the touchback and then scored on another deep ball this time to Deebo Samuel. In just two minutes and 34 seconds of game time, 21 points were put on the board. 
With a minute and seven seconds left in the first half, linebacker JD Davis picked off Jake Bentley in South Carolina territory. It was his first career interception and set up the Tigers for more points. Amari Rodgers immediately caught a pass from Lawrence and converted it for the touchdown, but he was called for offensive pass interference after the end of the play. Instead of seven points, Swinney decided to settle for three. Unfortunately, Greg Huegel whipped his kick wide right and the Tigers ended up with nothing. 
Of the eight touchdowns scored by Clemson, seven of them were on the ground which increased Clemson’s total rushing touchdowns to 42 on the year which sets a Clemson record. Etienne also upped his rushing touchdown total to 19 which is also a school record. 
Clemson put up 744 yards of offense which is the most they have ever had against South Carolina. Trevor Lawrence also threw for 393 yards which was not only a career high, but also the most any Clemson quarterback has ever thrown for against the Gamecocks. 
The Tigers’ next game will be at the ACC Championship where they will square off against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers who lost their last game to Miami, 24-3. The last time these two teams met, Pittsburgh shocked then-No. 3 Clemson in Death Valley 43-42. Game time is scheduled for 8 pm on December 1.