Clemson football: Observations as Tigers' playoff hopes smashed by archrival South Carolina

Clemson lost a lot Saturday in the Palmetto Bowl against South Carolina.

The Tigers fell 31-30 to the Gamecocks, eliminating its chances to return to the College Football Playoffs.

Clemson lost at home for the first time in 40 games.

The Tigers missed out on its eighth consecutive victory against the GAmecocks, which would have been a record in the rivalry.

"It doesn't matter if you lose five in a row or if you lose one in a row," Swinney said during the week . "You lose this game, it stinks. Period. You could've won 20 in a row. You lose this game, it stinks."

South Carolina, which last week drilled then-No. 5 Tennessee, knocked off Top 10 teams in consecutive weeks for the first time in program history.

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3:38 p.m. | Clemson fumbles away its final opportunity to stay in playoffs race

Clemson forced a punt, which Antonio Williams fielded and returned. However, he fumbled the ball away when hit by South Carolina's Adkins. South Carolina recovered.

The Gamecocks had a first down and about 2 minutes remaining. Clemson had one timeout remaining.

South Carolina converted for a first down and ran out the clock.

FINAL: South Carolina 31, No. 8 Clemson 30

3:33 p.m. | Clemson football's playoff dreams dwindle with punt

Needing a score to overtake South Carolina and a little more than 4 minutes left, Clemson was unable to push for more than a first down.

The first down actually came on a pass interference penalty against the Gamecocks.

From there, DJ Uiagalelei missed on four consecutive passes, though E.J. Williams dropped one that would have been a first down had it been caught.

Clemson punted away with 2:39 remaining and three timeouts remaining.

4Q: South Carolina 31, No. 8 Clemson 30, 2:39.

3:27 p.m. | South Carolina pins Clemson football again

Clemson's defense overcame an interception by DJ Uiagalelei, but South Carolina still won that battle.

Tigers forced a three-and-out from the Gamecocks' 35 with help from a penalty against South Carolina.

But punter Kai Kroeger thwarted the stand by delivering his second consecutive perfect punt. This one bounced to the Clemson 3 before it was downed.

On South Carolina's previous possession, he kicked a 61-yarder to the Clemson 2.

Clemson likely is down to its final possession.

4Q: South Carolina 31, No. 8 Clemson 30, 4:19.

3:21 p.m. | DJ Uiagalelei throws untimely interception for Clemson football

Needing a points-generating drive, Clemson held the ball for one play.

Starting from its 2, Clemson's Will Shipley rushed 7 yards and got 15 more when the Gamecocks' Zacch Pickens was penalized for a face-mask grab.

Whatever momentum that generated disappeared when DJ Uiagalelei overthrew a long pass to tight end Davis Allen, and Marcellus Dial intercepted.

4Q: South Carolina 31, No. 8 Clemson 30, 6:37.

3:16 p.m. | Clemson football faces long field as it tries to save playoff hopes

With only 66 yards in 18 second-half plays, Clemson watched its lead disappear in first 23 minutes of the second half.

The Tigers' defense forced a South Carolina punt, but the Gamecocks used it to pin Clemson at the 2. Kai Kroeger punted 61 yards.

3:03 p.m. | South Carolina takes the lead on No. 8 Clemson football

Sparked by three completions between Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells and the rushing of Jaheim Bell, South Carolina drove 54 yards and got a 35-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter to take the lead on South Carolina. The drive took 6 minutes, 21 seconds off the clock.

4Q: South Carolina 31, No. 8 Clemson 30, 10:54.

2:55 p.m. | Clemson football loses R.J. Mickens to targeting penalty

With South Carolina completing a dominant third quarter -- 14 points, 128 yards -- to close Clemson's lead to two points, the Tigers defense also lost a key player.

Safety R.J. Mickens was penalized for targeting on a tackle of South Carolina's Jaheim Bell. He was ejected only a couple of plays after fellow safety Jalyn Phillips limped off.

Clemson had freshman Sherrod Covil and little-used senior Fletcher Cothran at safeties.

2:44 p.m. | This time, Clemson football's Andrew Mukuba can't save a drive

South Carolina wasted little time striking back after Clemson's touchdown.

On second-and-7 from the Gamecocks' 28, Spencer Rattler threw deep to Juice Wells, who had beaten Andrew Mukuba.

Beaten on a long pass in the second quarter, Mukuba had chased down JuJu McDowell after 65 yards at the 1, and the Tigers intercepted a pass into the end zone to snuff the scoring threat.

Not this time. Mukuba tripped and fell, and Wells raced for a 73-yard touchdown.

3Q: No. 8 Clemson 30, South Carolina 28, 3:45

2:38 p.m. | Will Shipley pads Clemson football's lead

Clemson's offense was struggling, having punted on five of its previous possessions and with DJ Uiagalelei struggling with his passes. ABC reported he was dealing with a lower body injury, possibly on his first carry of the second half when he took a hard shot to a hip.

After a 23-yard punt return by Antonio Williams gave the Tigers at the ball at South Carolina's 49, Uiagalelei badly missed with another pass.

But Phil Mafah changed the trajectory, gaining 18 yards on a second-down run. Uiagalelei then completed a screen pass to Will Shipley, who gained 10 yards.

Two 4-yard runs by Kobe Pace gave Clemson third-and-2 at the Gamecocks' 11, and Shipley took it from there.

With coach Dabo Swinney trying to call a timeout, Shipley took a handoff, followed a block by center Will Putnam and scored.

3Q: No. 8 Clemson 30, South Carolina 21, 4:35.

2:17 p.m. | Punt return sets up score for South Carolina football vs. Clemson

Special teams play has been an emphasis of South Carolina coach Shane Beamer -- and that of his father, College Football Hall of Famer Frank Beamer, who is attending the game -- and it paid off handsomely on the first special teams play of the second half.

The Gamecocks turned a poor punt by Clemson's Aidan Swanson into points.

Swanson kicked a line-drive punt that went 38 yards and was fielded on the first bounce by the Gamecocks' Ahmarean Brown. He cut left and went 37 yards, giving South Carolina the ball at Clemson's 26.

Jaheim Bell rushed 8 yards to the 15, and two plays later, quarterback Spencer Rattler completed a pass in the flat to reserve tight end Nate Adkins to the 2. Bell scored on a run.

3Q: No. 8 Clemson 23, South Carolina 21, 12:06.

1:51 p.m. | Turnovers give Clemson football advantage at halftime vs. South Carolina

Clemson took a nine-point lead into halftime, largely because of a couple of interceptions of South Carolina quarterback (see below).

The Tigers also had a slight statistical advantage.

Clemson has outgained the Gamecocks 250-227 and leads 11-6 in first downs.

South Carolina has a large edge in passing offense. Rattler is 12-for-23 for 207 yards with a touchdown, while Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei is 5-for-13 for 86 yards, 59 of which were gained one a pass to Beaux Collins, who left the game a couple of plays later with a wrist injury.

Clemson has a large advantage in rushing. Led by Will Shipley's 99 yards on nine carries, the Tigers have 164 yards on 25 attempts. The Gamecocks have 13 carries for 20 yards, including a 15-yard gain on a reverse by wide receiver Jalen Brooks.

1:38 p.m. | Clemson football's defense denies South Carolina a touchdown

Spencer Rattler completed a pass to JuJu McDowell, who had Clemson's Andrew Mukuba badly beaten. Mukuba pulled down McDowell at the 1 -- a 65-yard gain, the longest pass of Rattler's career -- but Mukuba's tackle proved important.

After Dakereon Joyner rushed for a 1-yard loss on a wildcat keeper, Rattler returned. He passed into the end zone, but into double coverage, and the Tigers' R.J. Mickens intercepted, denying the Gamecocks any points.

It was Rattler's second interception of the game. The first was returned 35 yards by linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for a touchdown.

2Q: No. 8 23, Clemson 23, South Carolina 14, 3:18.

1:32 p.m. | Clemson football's first deep pass is a big one

Clemson made a point early of establishing its running game against South Carolina. Through the first 23 minutes of play, the Tigers had rushed 19 times for 131 yards and completed two passes for 13 yards.

DJ Uiagalelei changed that when he threw 19 yards to Beaux Collins, who had a step on Gamecocks cornerback Darius Rush. Collins went 40 more yards before Rush pulled him down at the South Carolina 15.

Uiagalelei rushed for 4 yards, threw and incomplete pass and then passed 11 yards to Antonio Williams for a touchdown.

2Q: No. 8 Clemson 23, South Carolina 14, 6:14.

1:21 p.m. | South Carolina strikes back, converts Clemson turnover into touchdown

Clemson tried a little trickery on the kick return that followed its defense's safety, and it worked. At first. Then it turned disastrous.

Will Shipley took the kick at the 10, ran to the 18 and pitched to Phil Mafah. Mafah gained another 31 yards but then fumbled while trying to break an ankle tackle.

South Carolina's Traevon Kenion recovered at Clemson's 37.

Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler then completed three consecutive passes for 33 yards -- the biggest a 23-yard gain to Jalen Brooks -- and then rushed 4 yards for a touchdown.

2Q: No. 8 Clemson 16, South Carolina 14, 8:24.

1:16 p.m. | Clemson's defense records safety for second consecutive game

Clemson punter Adain Swanson's 52-yard boot bounced out at the South Carolina 1 set up a big play by the Tigers' defense.

On first down, Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler tried to pass from the end zone. Clemson's defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro rushed unblocked and pulled Rattler downward. Rattler avoided the sack but stumbled and threw incomplete to the left flat just before his knee touched.

Officials called intentional grounding, which is a safety when it occurs in the end zone.

2Q: No. 8 Clemson 16, South Carolina 7, 10:05.

12:59 p.m. | South Carolina takes to the air to close gap vs. Clemson football

Its running game struggling and starting a possession at its 49, South Carolina immediately went to the passing game.

Spencer Rattler threw downfield to reserve tight end Nate Adkins for a 32-yard gain. Adkins leaped and grabbed the ball with one hand before securing it with the other and falling to the ground at the Clemson 19. It was only the fifth reception this season for Adkins.

A reverse run by wide receiver Jalen Brooks gave the Gamecocks a first-and-goal on the 2. Rattler missed on a pass to tight end and then South Carolina tried two runs that netted a 2-yard loss.

On fourth down, Rattler passed to Juice Wells crossing in front of the end line for a touchdown.

2Q: No. 8 Clemson 14, South Carolina 7.

12:46 p.m. | South Carolina loses key receiver Josh Vann to injury

South Carolina senior wide receiver Josh Vann made a catch for a 34-yard gain on the Gamecocks' fourth possession, but collapsed immediately afterward. ABC's broadcast team said the injury was to the left leg but declined to show a replay, describing the injury as "gruesome."

12:35 p.m. | Clemson football drives 90 yards for touchdown

Clemson's running game generated a touchdown midway through the first quarter.

After runs of 15 and 10 yards, Will Shipley broke through the middle for a 47-yard gain -- which pushed Shipley past the 1,000-yard mark this season -- quarterback DJ Uiagalelei churned 9 yards for a touchdown.

Clemson rushed for 83 yards of the 90 yards in the drive. Shipley has 76 yards in the game and 1,036 this season.

1Q: No. 8 Clemson 14, South Carolina 0, 5:52.

12:21 p.m. | Clemson football defense strikes early against South Carolina

Clemson's defense gave the Tigers and early lead in the rivalry against South Carolina.

On the first play of the Gamecocks' second possession, quarterback Spencer Rattler misread Clemson's pass coverage and his pass was intercepted by linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Trotter returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, the first non-offensive touchdown by the Tigers this season.

1Q: No. 8 Clemson 7, South Carolina 0, 12:08.

Clemson football score vs. South Carolina: Live updates

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Observations as Clemson football's CFP hopes smashed by South Carolina