Inside the Numbers: No. 24 Clemson 16, South Carolina 7

0 - Clemson won the game despite not scoring an offensive touchdown. It was Clemson’s first win in a game in which its offense did not score a touchdown since 2014 at Louisville (23-17).

1 - Barnes became the first Clemson freshman with three or more interceptions in a season since Jayron Kearse in 2013 (four).

2 - South Carolina totaled just two yards from scrimmage from 13:29 left in the 2nd quarter until the Gamecocks second possession of the 4th quarter, with just 11:54 left in the game.

2 - Barnes became only the second FBS player — and the only FBS freshman — to record three or more interceptions, multiple forced fumbles and multiple sacks this season. Mississippi State senior Jett Johnson is the only other player to do so this season.

3 - On South Carolina’s next play from scrimmage, Barnes recorded his third interception of his freshman season. Barnes became the first Clemson player to record a takeaway on consecutive plays from scrimmage by an opponent since Brian Dawkins against Duke in 1995.

4 - Clemson won the turnover margin, 2-1, and has now won the turnover margin for a fourth consecutive game for the first time since 2020.

5 - Barnes’ touchdown was Clemson’s fifth defensive touchdown of the season to tie the 1990 season for the most by the Tigers in a season since 1950.

6 - Clemson produced a sixth 200-yard rushing game this season to give the Tigers at least six 200-yard rushing performances in a season for the first time since 2019 (10).

8 - After allowing a touchdown drive in the first quarter, Clemson forced eight punts and a turnover on downs on South Carolina’s nine remaining possessions.

14 - On his 14th pass attempt of the game, Klubnik (401) posted the ninth 400-attempt passing season in Clemson history. On the same pass, Klubnik (501) also became the 14th player in Clemson history to attempt 500 career passes.

15 - South Carolina entered the week ranked 15th in the nation in passing yards per game (293.1). Clemson held South Carolina to 112 passing yards in the contest.

24 -Klubnik became the 24th Clemson quarterback since 1954 to win his first start against South Carolina. He joined Charlie Bussey (1955), Bill Barbary (1957), Lowndes Shingler (1960), Jim Parker (1963), Jimmy Addison (1966), Ken Pengitore (1972), Mark Fellers (1974), Steve Fuller (1976), Homer Jordan (1980), Mike Eppley (1983), Rodney Williams (1985), Chris Morocco (1989), DeChane Cameron (1990), Dexter McCleon (1993), Brandon Streeter (1998), Woodrow Dantzler (1999), Charlie Whitehurst (2002), Cullen Harper (2007), Deshaun Watson (2014), Kelly Bryant (2017), Trevor Lawrence (2018) and DJ Uiagalelei (2021).

35 - Barnes’ score came 35 seconds into the game, representing Clemson’s quickest score in its series against South Carolina since C.J. Spiller ran back the opening kickoff of the 2009 game in 19 seconds.

38 - Clemson held the ball for 38:00 and has now recorded at least 38 minutes of possession in back-to-back games. It marks the first time under Dabo Swinney that Clemson has held the ball for at least 38 minutes in consecutive games.

42 - Clemson opened the scoring on a 42-yard fumble return touchdown by safety Khalil Barnes. It marked Clemson’s second straight year opening the South Carolina game with a defensive touchdown, as Jeremiah Trotter Jr. scored the first points of the 2022 game on a 35-yard interception return for touchdown.

50 - Kicker Jonathan Weitz recorded a career-long 50-yard field goal in the first quarter. It was Clemson’s longest field goal since a 52-yarder by B.T. Potter in the 2022 ACC Championship Game. Weitz’ 50-yarder came in the same stadium as the first 50-yard field goal in Clemson history, a 52-yarder by Eddie Seigler against South Carolina in 1971.

50 - South Carolina completed 16-of-32 passes (50 percent). Clemson has now held four consecutive opponents below to a completion percentage of 50 percent or below for the first time since a six-game streak in 2019.

52 - Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 15-of-27 passes for 100 yards and rushed for a career-high 52 yards on 11 attempts.

59 - Center Will Putnam played his 59th career game to surpass Mitch Hyatt (58) for the most games played by an offensive lineman in school history.

79 - Barnes’ touchdown snapped a six-game streak for Clemson in which its opponents had scored first. Clemson is now 79-6 when scoring first since 2015. 

79.3 - South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was held to a 79.3 pass efficiency rating, the lowest of any start of his career.

155 - Clemson has a 155-52 advantage in its five-game winning streak in games played at South Carolina, including a 118-20 edge in its last four trips to Williams-Brice Stadium.

169 - Clemson surrendered only 169 total yards, its fewest surrendered in its series with South Carolina since 1989 (155). The 169 yards allowed were the fewest surrendered by Clemson against an FBS opponent since allowing only 98 yards against Miami (Fla.) last November.

219 - Clemson rushed for 219 yards and has now rushed for 200 yards in three straight games for the first time since the final three games of the 2022 regular season.

2011 - Clemson opened the game with takeaways on each of South Carolina’s first two possessions. The last time Clemson notched takeaways on its opponents first two possessions was on Oct. 1, 2011 against Virginia Tech.

2017 - Barnes became the first Clemson player with a fumble recovery and an interception in the same game since Dorian O’Daniel at Virginia Tech in 2017.

More Notes and Numbers

Klubnik (260) now has the 10th-most pass completions in a season in Clemson history.

On his fourth reception of the game, wide receiver Tyler Brown (51) became the fifth Clemson player since 2010 to record 50 receptions in a freshman season, joining Antonio Williams (56 in 2022), Artavis Scott (76 in 2014), Sammy Watkins (82 in 2011) and DeAndre Hopkins (52 in 2010).

With 112 all-purpose yards in the game, running back Will Shipley (4,121) passed Jacoby Ford (4,083) for ninth on Clemson's all-time leaderboard for career all-purpose yards.

Linebacker Barrett Carter recorded his third sack of the season in the second quarter, ending a South Carolina drive.

Weitz added a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 42-yarder in the third quarter. All three of his field goals on Saturday exceeded his previous career long (41).

Weitz’ three field goals tied the Clemson record in a single game against South Carolina, set by several players but most recently by B.T. Potter in 2021. 

Weitz’s three field goals of 40-plus yards tied a school record, shared by Bob Paulling (vs. North Carolina in 1982), Nelson Welch (vs. NC State in 1991), Mark Buchholz (vs. Wake Forest in 2007) and Chandler Catanzaro (vs. Troy in 2011).

Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro ended a South Carolina drive with a third-down sack in the third quarter. It was his career-high fifth sack of the season. 

Orhorhoro has now recorded a sack in consecutive games for the second time this season (at Syracuse and vs. Wake Forest). 

Putnam made his 48th career start to move into sole possession of the fourth-most starts by an offensive lineman in school history.

Defensive tackle Tyler Davis made his 51st career start to extend his Clemson record for the most career starts by a defensive player.

Davis pulled within one start of PK Chandler Catanzaro (52) for the fourth-most career starts in Clemson history.

Defensive end Xavier Thomas played his 60th career game, becoming the seventh player in Clemson history to reach that mark. 

Clemson entered the game having led the all-time series with the Gamecocks for 45,663 consecutive days (125 years, 8 days). South Carolina won the series opener in 1896 before Clemson evened the series in 1897. Clemson won the third game in the series on Nov. 17, 1898 to take a 2-1 series lead, a lead Clemson hasn’t relinquished. 

Captains for the contest were quarterback Hunter Helms, defensive end Justin Mascoll, center Will Putnam and defensive end Xavier Thomas.