JUSTIN HALL

South Carolina is limping into the final week of the season.

It’s time for the annual Palmetto State rivalry between the Gamecocks and the Clemson Tigers.

For the last half of this decade, Clemson has been in a different stratosphere in comparison to South Carolina and 2019 is no different.

The Gamecocks are 4-7 with no hopes of a bowl game. Offensively, USC has been unable to generate anything and head coach Will Muschamp and his staff are lucky to score 20 points over the last month.

Last season, Offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon drew up a fantastic game plan as the Gamecocks offense scored 35 points in Clemson.

It was the most points scored by South Carolina in the rivalry matchup since it scored 56 in a 1975 victory.

Fast forward to 2019 and the emotions surrounding the program have completely changed.

It’s believed Gamecock record-setting wide receiver Bryan Edwards (knee scope) will miss Saturday. Without Edwards, the Gamecocks are severely limited in down the field situations.

It’s incumbent upon freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski to evade the rush and extend plays.

The young receiving corps will also have to do a better job of working themselves open against a stout Clemson defense.

The Gamecocks have played well defensiviely this season, not allowing big plays at the frequency of 2018. Defensive linemen Javon Kinlaw, DJ Wonnum, and JJ Enagbare will need to apply pressure and force quarterback Trevor Lawrence into mistakes that he hasn’t made since earlier in the season.

There’s very few areas where South Carolina has any sort of advantage to exploit. The expectation is for Clemson to win handily, with very little resistance from the Gamecocks.

It’s the final game of the season, so expect the Gamecocks to throw everything they have at Clemson to pick up the biggest win of the Muschamp era.

There’s “no tomorrow” for USC and if there isn’t a concerted effort to empty the chamber against the Tigers, expect major changes to happen shortly after the season ends.

Saturday’s game between South Carolina and Clemson will air nationally at noon on ESPN. The Gamecock broadcast can be heard on WNKT (107.5 FM) and on the TuneIn Radio phone app.

Justin Hall is the director of media/ broadcasting and assistant general manager for the Lexington County Blowfish. He’s also the co-host of the ‘Fifth Quarter Post-Game Show’ on WVOC (103.5 FM) with former Gamecock Tim Frisby.