Tigers-Gamecocks showdown at high noon

COLUMBIA -- Clemson still has some important business to take care of before South Carolina week.

But the 18th-ranked Tigers, division title on their minds, at least know when they'll meet the rival Gamecocks next week.

The Palmetto rivalry will be a noon kickoff Nov. 28 on ESPN at USC's Williams-Brice Stadium.

Once 2-3, Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) has rattled off five consecutive victories to get to the doorstep of its first ACC Atlantic Division title since the league expanded.

It would sew that up Saturday with a win against Virginia (3-7) at Death Valley.

Even if the Tigers lose, they could still wind up in the championship game in Tampa, Fla., if Boston College (7-3, 4-2) loses to either North Carolina or Maryland in the next two weeks.

Clemson holds the head-to-head advantage over BC, thanks to a 25-7 victory on Sept. 19.

Meanwhile, after 11 consecutive weeks of football, South Carolina has finally arrived at its open date.

The Gamecocks have dropped three consecutive games to fall to 6-5.

But there's a feeling among them that things are different than last season's attitude-driven late slide.

Florida clobbered the Gamecocks 56-6 last season on the way to its second national title in three years.

Last week, though, USC was in position to take a fourth-quarter lead on the No. 1 Gators when a deflected interception quickly turned the game around in a 24-14 UF win.

Regardless of how it's happened, South Carolina could certainly use a seventh victory to bolster its bowl standing.

A whole host of SEC teams figure to finish the year with seven wins. The Gamecocks would be wise to be among them -- or meet a bowl game in Alabama or (northern) Louisiana.

Sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia, without even being asked about Clemson, called the game a "must-win."

"It's the same as any other game," Garcia said, "except it's Clemson."

Garcia has yet to play a down against the Tigers. He watched last year's 31-14 Tigers rout from the sideline.

The Tigers lead the series 65-37-4, including wins in 10 of the past 12 meetings and six of the past seven.

Steve Spurrier is 1-3 against Clemson since arriving at USC. Dabo Swinney, still an interim coach last November, is 1-0 against the Gamecocks as a head coach.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com.