South Carolina was still smarting from the previous year’s loss in Clemson when a two-win Clemson team beat the Gamecocks, 28-9, knocking them out of contention for a possible Peach Bowl bid.
When Clemson visited Columbia on November 19, 1977, the roles were reversed. South Carolina was sitting at 5-5 and knew its season was over regardless of the outcome. Clemson on the other hand, was having its best season in almost two decades. The Tigers were in the running for a Gator Bowl invitation and needed a victory over their archrival to secure the bid and go bowling for the first time since 1959.