Palmetto State game special among rivalries in the Southeast

For most of its existence, the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry has been overlooked on a national scale.

In state, we all know what the rivalry means to the players, coaches and fans on both sides.

But outside of the borders of the Palmetto State, it typically has just been another game during rivalry week.

That changed quite a bit as the South Carolina program’s profile was raised during Steve Spurrier’s time as the Gamecocks’ head coach. As painful as the five-game losing streak was for Clemson fans, it was probably the best thing that could have happened for the rivalry as far how it is seen around the nation.

It didn’t hurt that Dabo Swinney has taken Clemson’s program to another level since…