Palmetto Bowl: By The Numbers

Palmetto Bowl: By The NumbersStory byJason BarkerTue, December 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM UTC·4 min read

Clemson followed suit from the last couple years and got another Palmetto Bowl win at Williams Bryce stadium.  Despite the score, this game was not as close as it would appear.  Outside of 2 very poor plays that lead to 2 Gamecock touchdowns, the Tigers’ defense dictated the game from start to finish. Let’s take a look at the game through the numbers:

OFFENSE

• Total Yards:  415 yds,  5.3 y/play

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• Passing Game: 268 yds, 6.9 per attempt

• QB Cade Klubnik: 24 of 39,  61.5%, 268 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 114 efficiency — mid compl percentage, very efficiency (0 TDs and an INT)

• WR T.J. Moore – 6  catches, 101 yds

• Run Game:  147 yds, 3.7 y/play

• RB Adam Randal:  24 carries, 102, yards, 1 TD, 4.2 ypc — decent ypc numbers

• Explosive Plays (passes > 20 yds, runs > 10 yds): Pass – 4 (31, 26, 24, 21), Run – 2 (13, 10)

• Tackles For Loss Allowed / Sacks Allowed: 5 TFL / 1 sack

• Summary: Clemson’s offense opened the game with rhythm and balance, producing 17 first-half points and consistently winning field position. However, after halftime, the offense stalled significantly, generating only 3 offensive points and never reaching the red zone. Clemson gained just 137 yards in the 2nd half, with only one explosive play and a steep drop in 3rd-down success (2-for-8 after halftime). The run game lost efficiency, and the passing attack became conservative with fewer intermediate/deep attempts. Protection held up, but negative plays and predictable sequencing limited drive success.

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QB play was one of those performances where the box score looks serviceable, but the context shows real limitations. In my opinion, Klubnik looked a bit rattled and did not appear to be seeing the field well.  He was efficient enough to keep Clemson on schedule, but not finishing drives, turning it over in the red zone, and providing almost no rushing threat made the offense look noticeably flat — especially after halftime.

DEFENSE

• Total Yards:  422 yds, 6.9 yds/play

• Passing Game:  381 yds, 9.1 per attempt — this number is inflated by the two long TDs to Jacobs and Harbor

• QB Lanorris Sellers: 23 of 42, 54.8%, 381 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 137 rating — poor completion percentage, but a decent rating thanks to those two long TDs

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• WR Vandrevius Jacobs:  7 catches for 141 yds, 1 TD

• Run Game:  41 yds, 2.2 yds/play — the Clemson defense suffocated the Gamecocks running game

• RB Rahsul Faison:  5 carries for 37 yds, 7.4 ypc

• Takeaways (INTs / Fumbles): 2 INT / 2 FR

• Sacks / TFLs: 5 sacks / 6 TFL

• Explosive Plays Allowed: 2 (53, 74)

• Summary: Clemson controlled the line of scrimmage, holding SC to 2.2 ypc, producing 5 sacks and had 6 TFLs.  Coverage was tight for the most part, tackling remained sharp, kept Sellers in the pocket and batted 11 of his passes.  Unlike last year, they were able to keep him in the pocket and force him to execute with his arm.  WR Harbor and WR Jacobs produced explosive plays early but were limited in the second half as Clemson held firm control.

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SPECIAL TEAMS

• Clemson FG / XP: 2-2 FG, 2-2 XP, 1-1 two-point

• Clemson Punting: 41 avg, 4 inside 20

• SC FG / XP: 0-0 FG, 2-2 XP

• SC Punting:  45 AVG

• Summary: Hauser was perfect in all kicking situations and provided needed stability during Clemson’s offensive slowdown. Jack Smith emphasized placement over distance, pinning SC deep four times. Kick coverage was steady, limiting SC’s return game. Although SC had a higher gross punting average, Clemson’s special teams produced the greater field-position impact.

SITUATIONAL METRICS

• 3rd Down: Clemson 7 of 17 (41%) | SC 1 of  11 (9%)

• 4th Down: Clemson 0  | SC 1 / 3 (33%)

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• Red Zone: Clemson 3 / 4 (75%) | SC 0

• Penalties: Clemson 7 for 45 yds | SC 5 for 54 yds

• Time of Possession: Clemson 38:44 | SC 21:16

• Turnovers: Clemson 1 | SC 4

• Summary: Clemson dominated situational football from start to finish, most notably with a massive possession edge and elite third-down defense. A +3 turnover margin, including a pick-six, proved to be the difference and sealed the win. Red-zone efficiency was strong early, though the offense did not reach the red zone after halftime. Penalties were moderate by both teams and did not have a huge impact on the outcome. SC’s inability to convert on 3rd down or sustain drives allowed Clemson to manage tempo and field position throughout.

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Clemson’s defense ultimately dictated the rivalry win, dominating South Carolina outside of two terrible plays in the secondary that resulted in long, fluky touchdowns. Those breakdowns were the only real blemishes in a performance that otherwise smothered the Gamecocks, holding them to 2.2 yards per rush, 1-for-11 on third down, and 0 points after halftime. The Tigers generated four takeaways and consistently collapsed the pocket to keep SC’s offense out of rhythm. With the offense stalling in the second half, it was Clemson’s defense that controlled the game and closed it out.

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