South Carolina plays spoiler to Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. » Some teams would been content with a season-defining win over top-10 Tennessee. Not South Carolina and certainly not Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler.
South Carolina followed up its 63-38 stunner over the Vols last week with a 31-30 victory over No. 7 Clemson on Saturday, ending the title chances of another College Football Playoff contender for a second straight week.
“We wanted more. We knew this was the biggest game of the season for us,” said Rattler, who passed for 360 yards and two touchdowns. “These last two games will change the narrative for program history.”
Saturday’s game certainly turned a one-sided rivalry on its ear. South Carolina has played in the shadow of two-time national champion Clemson the past nine years, losing the past seven against the Tigers (10-2, 8-0 ACC, No. 8 CFP), who had been on a 40-game winning streak at home.
But the Gamecocks (8-4, 4-4 SEC) rallied from 14-0 down after 10 minutes to beat Clemson for the first time since 2013.
“Where’s my trophy? Where’s my trophy?” cornerback Cam Smith shouted of the silver-colored “Palmetto Bowl” honor that’s finally coming back to Columbia.
South Carolina and Rattler, who threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns against Tennessee, ended any chance Clemson had at a playoff berth.
(1) GEORGIA 37, GEORGIA TECH 14 » Stetson Bennett threw two TD passes and
Georgia (12-0, No. 1 CFP) completed back-to-back undefeated regular seasons for the first time in school history by overcoming a slow start against Georgia Tech (5-7).
(4) TCU 62, IOWA STATE 14 »
Kendre Miller ran for two TDs and TCU (12-0, 9-0) completed the first undefeated regular season by a Big 12 team since 2009 with a win over Iowa State (4-8, 1-8) that moved the Horned Frogs closer to making the fourteam College Football Playoff.
Max Duggan threw TDs to three receivers for the Frogs, who still have the Big 12 championship game to play next Saturday in coach Sonny Dykes’ first season.
(8) ALABAMA 42, AUBURN 2 »
Bryce Young passed for 343 yards and three TDs and ran for another score in perhaps his final home game for Alabama
(10-2, 6-2 SEC) in its Iron Bowl win over Auburn (5-7, 2-6).
Young, a junior, completed 20 of 30 passes with an interception and ran for 48 yards. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is projected as a high NFL draft pick if he leaves early.
(22) OREGON STATE 38, (10) OREGON 34 »
Isaiah Newell ran for the go-ahead TD with 8:11 remaining, and Oregon State (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) took advantage of critical mistakes in the fourth quarter to beat Oregon (9-3, 7-2) to rally for a victory.
(14) UTAH 63, COLORADO 21 »
Cameron Rising threw three TD passes before taking a seat for the second half, Ja’Quinden Jackson ran for three scores and Utah (9-3, 7-3) routed Colorado (1-11, 1-8) to remain in the chase for the last spot into the Pac-12 title game.