With aĀ soul-crushing home loss to South Carolina,Ā Clemson will not make the CollegeĀ FootballĀ Playoff.
And then there were sixā¦
While Ohio State is still technically alive for College Football Playoff consideration after getting blown out at home by Michigan, the same thing cannot be said for Clemson. Although the Tigers only lost by a single point to the South Carolina Gamecocks, a second loss in the non-conference has eliminated Dabo Swinneyās team from playoff consideration for the second straight season.
Here is the absolutely brutal fumble on a critical punt return to help lift South Carolina to victory.
Oh no, Clemsonā¦What happeneddddduh https://t.co/CDvBphYLTv
ā Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 26, 2022
Clemson is eliminated from College Football Playoff after South Carolina loss
With South Carolina winning on Saturday, it snapped the streak of seven straight Palmetto Bowl victories for the Tigers. Clemsonās FBS best home winning streak was also snapped. By stunning the Tigers in Death Valley, this gives Shane Beamerās South Carolina program back-to-back wins over top-10 teams. With this being year two for him in Columbia, South Carolina is rolling now.
SOUTH CAROLINA DOES IT AGAIN!@GamecockFB ends Clemson's 40-game home win streak and upsets a second straight playoff contender š± pic.twitter.com/Orw9DGXVeQ
ā ESPN (@espn) November 26, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA UPSETS CLEMSON!!!!! DOWN GOES THE LONGEST ACTIVE HOME WINNING STREAK IN CFB!! https://t.co/PrxnCimM1M
ā Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 26, 2022
WE JUST BEAT CLEMSON
ā The REAL USC (@BarstoolUofSC) November 26, 2022
DOWN GOES CLEMSON
ā RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 26, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA ELIMINATES A PLAYOFF CONTENDER FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT WEEK
COCKS ON TOP, 31-30
It is truly amazing that Beamer Ball is ultimately what it took to ruin Clemsonās season. Had the Tigers beaten South Carolina, they would have improved to 11-1 on the year. With a win over North Carolina in the ACC Championship game, they could have gotten into the College Football Playoff with some help from the likes of Georgia, Michigan, TCU and USC. For now, it is so overā¦
SOUTH CAROLINA UPSETS NO. 7 CLEMSON š¤Æ pic.twitter.com/24GIodxe9V
ā Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 26, 2022
DOWN GOES #8 CLEMSON!!!! pic.twitter.com/FznbTBcYwM
ā PFF College (@PFF_College) November 26, 2022
South Carolina is one first down from beating Clemson for the first time since 2013 and ending Clemson's Playoff hopes.
ā Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 26, 2022
It's All Happening.
#Gamecocks end Clemson's 40-game home winning streak.
ā Mike Gillespie (@MikeABCColumbia) November 26, 2022
USC wins its first game against Clemson since 2013.
And for the first time in school history, USC has back-to-back wins over top 10 teams. pic.twitter.com/Awsv2Vl00L
While South Carolina is not sniffing the New Yearās Six with its 8-4 record on the season, the Gamecocks have all sorts of positive momentum heading into year three under Beamer. As for Clemson, the Tigers can still win an ACC Championship. If they beat North Carolina in Charlotte next Saturday, the Tigers will potentially face Alabama or possibly Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.
South Carolina will beat Clemson, knocking the Tigers from CFP contention.
ā Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 26, 2022
For the first time in the CFP Era, we will not have either Alabama or Clemson in the playoffs.
South Carolina snaps 7 game losing streak to Clemson & the Clemson 40 game home winning streak.
ā Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) November 26, 2022
8 wins for @CoachSBeamer & @GamecockFB
THE STREAK IS OVER!
ā Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) November 26, 2022
The Gamecocks have defeated No. 7 Clemson 31-30. In doing so,
- USC snaps its seven game losing streak to Clemson
- Snap Clemsonās 40-game home winning streak
- End a season with back to back wins vs top-10 teams for 1st time since 2013.@WLTX | #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/yHx829snNP
Turns out Dabo Swinney and Clemson will also be at home flipping burgers and watching the College Football Playoff from the couch
ā SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 26, 2022
Ultimately, this might be a tipping point in the massive in-state rivalry between the Tigers and the Gamecocks. Not since Beamer was serving on Steve Spurrierās staff has South Carolina played this well vs. the Tigers. While Clemson is not a dying program, the Tigers are no longer dynastic. This means their CEO-type head coach will need to bring in better assistants to help stop the bleeding.
For now, the Gamecocks can claim the Palmetto State for their own for the next 365 days or so.
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