South Carolina and Clemson both want to remember November. The stakes feel huge

Since he took over as South Carolina’s head coach, Shane Beamer has led the Gamecocks for 26 games. It could be argued that none will mean as much as next Saturday..

Clemson at South Carolina.

The 120th Palmetto Bowl.

Another night game at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Somehow, in a game that theoretically means very little, the stakes feel huge.

There is no playoff spot on the line. No rankings to worry about. No job that needs saving. There are just two teams that tripped up early and found themselves in November.

Clemson (7-4, 4-4 ACC) and South Carolina (5-6, 3-5 SEC) have won a combined 12 games this season. There were some dark days for the two flagship universities of South Carolina. We were introduced to Tyler from Spartanburg and learned that one can break their foot by kicking a Gatorade cooler.

These two teams found ways to lose. To drive their fans mad. To make themselves internet memes.

And, yet, these two teams are a combined 6-0 in November.

On Saturday, the Tigers knocked off No. 20 North Carolina and, while coach Dabo Swinney knows his team probably isn’t making a New Year’s Six bowl game, “the more we win,” the Clemson coach said, “the warmer it gets.”

Later Saturday night and 135 miles southeast, South Carolina led a nine-play, go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to grab a 17-14 victory over Kentucky. The Gamecocks have now won three straight and, after starting the season 2-6, are one upset over Clemson from going bowling.

Over the last few weeks, Beamer — a man who has no trouble coining a catchphrase — kept telling his team, “They remember November.” It is a cliche, but it’s a good cliche. And each week it’s becoming clearer that his squad has bought in.

It’s as if Beamer was telling his team, the past can be forgiven. If you play well in November, no one cares about September or October.

Think about last year. The Gamecocks beat No. 5 Tennessee and No. 7 Clemson in back-to-back weeks and, five years from now, that is all anyone will remember about 2022. This 2023 South Carolina team has a chance to do the same thing, to cast partial-amnesia over an entire fan base.

Beat Clemson on Saturday and this will not just be a positive season, but a successful season. The type of victory — like the Tennessee and Clemson victories last year — that can persuade supporters that next year is gonna be the year.

“All the adversity we went through, starting 2-6,” said defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway. “We have a chance to make things right.”

Added safety Nick Emmanwori: “It feels like playoffs, like in high school. Like we have to win to go to a bowl game. It’s win or stay home. The team, we’ve been moving well and practicing with a good mindset. Just playing hard.”

If South Carolina somehow does beat Clemson, Beamer might steal Derek Jeter’s nickname and become the new Mr. November. Think about this: In his career, Beamer is 18-17 (52%) as a head coach but 8-3 (73%) in November. That’s staggering.

On the other side, you have Swinney. For all the heat he’s taken nationally for spurning the transfer portal and the criticism he’s faced locally for losing four games, a win over USC might go a long way in mending things.

This will be the 15th time Swinney has coached against the Gamecocks. Yet, somewhat surprisingly, it will be the first time he’ll have the chance to keep South Carolina out of a bowl game. If he’s had any trouble keeping his team motivated, that oughta do it.

And, yet, it feels like there is more on the line for South Carolina. It’s not so much that they could even play in a bowl game — no one dreams of playing in the Gasparilla Bowl. But it’s more about what a four-game winning streak and a victory over Clemson would say about South Carolina, about Beamer, about the players.

That they were better than their record. That they could respond. That the program is headed in the right direction.

Asked about being so close to their November goals, receiver Xavier Legette leaned into the microphone.

“We ain’t done,” he said. “We have one more.”

South Carolina vs. Clemson game

Who: Clemson (7-4) at South Carolina (5-6)

When: 7:30 p.m. next Saturday

Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia

TV: SEC Network