Disney and ESPN have made a decision surrounding the upcoming broadcast of a season-ending rivalry game in South Carolina.
Clemson and South Carolina will be aired on SEC Network. That represents a downgrade from the previous plan.
Both programs entered the season with College Football Playoff ambitions. Each finished the 2024 campaign at 9-3. The Tigers made the 12-team postseason field by winning the ACC. The Gamecocks were one of the first teams left out.
Each squad returned key pieces in 2025, most notably starting signal callers Cade Klubnik and LaNorris Sellers. Those players were considered Heisman trophy candidates and potential first-round NFL Draft picks.
With all of that in mind, most expected the season finale between the two sides to have major implications. That is no longer the case.
The Tigers are 5-5 through 10 games. The Gamecocks are 3-7. Bowl eligibility is in doubt. College Football Playoff hopes are long gone.
This game will mean much less to folks outside of the Palmetto State. There will be less eyes on the rivalry matchup.
The disappointment has led to a network demotion.
News: Next week’s Clemson-South Carolina football game will be a noon kickoff on SEC Network. Kick time was already set over the summer, but the channel designation is new. This game was supposed to air on ABC or ESPN … the teams’ records said otherwise
The noon kickoff was determined well before the season started. Both the ACC and SEC, however, advertised that the showdown would be aired on either ESPN or ABC. Now, it’s being sent to SEC Network.
Much has changed since the summer, particularly for the Gamecocks.
Calls for his job have been made following a historic 27-point collapse against Texas A&M. South Carolina led 30-3 after the first half of football. The Aggies won, 31-30.
South Carolina’s HC Shane Beamer did this mocking the Texas A&M crowd while being up 30-3 at halftime..
They winded up losing the game 31-30 what a clown ???????? pic.twitter.com/jdgPqkp4hw
It was the first time in the last 20 years of SEC play that a team has blown a 27-point lead. Some believe it’s put Beamer’s job in jeopardy.
Something that would keep the Gamecocks from making a move is the near $14 million buyout owed if the school was to fire its head coach.
While it’s far less than the $60 million total Clemson would be required to fire Dabo Swinney, it is a substantial number. The program must weigh its options.
South Carolina has lost seven of its last eight games. Rumors of key transfers and contention amongst members of the coaching staff have surfaced following the most recent meltdown.
Has Beamer lost control? Those that tune into SEC Network for the matchup vs. Clemson should get their answer.
If the Gamecocks battle to their third rivalry win in the last four tries, it will quiet the narrative. If not, it could be one step closer to the end for Beamer in Columbia.