COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the first time in the history of the Carolina-Clemson rivalry, both teams are in the conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff which is in the first year of the new 12-team format.
With former Clemson assistants Billy Napier and Brent Venables overseeing upsets of Ole Miss and Alabama respectively, the chaos that also took out the likes of BYU, Colorado and Texas A&M has allowed both the Gamecocks and Tigers to move up in the national rankings.
South Carolina moved up three spots to 16th in the Associated Press Top 25. In the Coaches Top 25, Shane Beamer's team is up five spots to 14th.
Clemson is now 12th in the AP Top 25, up from 17th. In the Coaches poll, the Tigers move from 16th to 12th.
The Top 15 showdown on tap for Saturday means the winner of the annual showdown could very well give the winner just enough momentum to earn an at-large bid to the playoff, depending on what happens to the teams above them in this week's rankings.