Gamecocks ‘don’t have the weapons today to compete with Clemson,’ Herbstreit says
During Saturday’s “College GameDay” TV show broadcast, ESPN football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is like “a young Dabo.”
“The culture and what he’s able to create,” Herbstreit said. “The energy, family, trying to bring people in. He’s going to recruit incredibly well.”
For the time being, though, the “GameDay” crew doesn’t think the Gamecocks have enough yet to take down Dabo Swinney and 23rd-ranked Clemson, which has won the past six meetings in the series. Though the six games haven’t been close, David Pollack thinks the Gamecocks can keep it close Saturday night.
“Now, if you’re a South Carolina fan, you’ve got a chance,” he said. “You’ve got hope, at least ... because your defense is really, really good. You’re playing at William-Brice Stadium. By the way, if you haven’t been there, it’s electric.”
Fellow analyst Desmond Howard echoed Herbstreit’s sentiments, noting how the Gamecocks fought last week against Auburn and were able to come away with the 21-17 victory. The win made the team bowl-eligible in Beamer’s first season and the program’s first since 2018.
“The way they responded tells you a lot about how they respect not only their head coach, but their whole coaching staff,” Howard said. “I love what he’s doing so far, culturally. The way the players responded, down 14-0, fought their way back into that game. I like what they’ve got down there in South Carolina.”
Clemson is No. 4 nationally in team talent, according to 247Sports, with South Carolina No. 22. The 247Sports College Football Team Talent Composite ranks teams based on their players’ star ratings as recruits.
Added Herbstreit: “(Beamer is) outmanned. That’s the reality of where they are. ... They just don’t have the weapons today to compete with Clemson.”
The Palmetto Bowl is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia and will be broadcasted on the SEC Network.
