South Carolina scored what might be the biggest upset of Rivalry Week on Saturday, defeating No. 8 Clemson 31-30 in Death Valley.
It was the second top-10 victory in as many weeks for Shane Beamer's Gamecocks squad; it beat then-No. 5 Tennessee 63-38 in Columbia. South Carolina ends its regular season with an 8-4 record, a likely top-25 ranking and momentum heading into bowl season.
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But it wasn't all love for Beamer after beating his team's most hated rival for the first time (and ending the program's seven-game losing streak against it). The second-year head coach took a direct jab at ESPN commentator Jesse Palmer, who on Friday spoke of the game as if it were a foregone conclusion in favor of the home team.
"I heard Jesse Palmer on TV last night, and I love Jesse," Beamer said on the ABC postgame interview, “but he said, 'Clemson needs a big win to impress the (College Football Playoff) committee.' Clemson needed to worry about winning the football game.
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"Because we had a confident bunch and a hell of a football team coming in here. And I think the narrative was that we were a feel-good story. We’ve got a good football team and we showed it.”
Shane Beamer calls out ESPN's Jesse Palmer after South Carolina upsets No. 8 Clemson. 🏈😂
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 26, 2022
"I heard Jesse Palmer on TV last night, and I love Jesse. But he said, 'Clemson needs a big win to impress the committee.' Clemson needed to worry about winning the football game." pic.twitter.com/cN3L7IpYJb
South Carolina won with an all-around effort, starting once more with quarterback Spencer Rattler. The Oklahoma transfer wasn't as effective as he was against the Volunteers, but he overcome a first-quarter pick-six to complete 25 of 39 passes for 360 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had a 4-yard touchdown run.
Both of his touchdown passes (4 and 72 yards) went to Antwane Wells Jr., who had nine catches for 131 yards.
Beamer certainly had a right to talk his talk after the game, which represented the third ranked victory for the Gamecocks this season (they also beat then-No. 13 Kentucky). And it's refreshing to see a coach admit that, yes, he does pay attention to the bulletin-board material.
Look for more of the same from Beamer and South Carolina as they head into bowl season. Especially if something comes from Palmer again.
