South Carolina football: The most iconic moments in the Palmetto State rivalry

LAST SECOND KICK(S)

1984

The Black Magic season for the Gamecocks ended with a 22-21 Carolina victory over the Tigers, but it didn’t come without drama.

South Carolina started the year 9-0, and were poised to become the nation’s top ranked team before dropping a game to Navy the week prior to the rivalry matchup. A dejected Gamecock group started sluggishly against the Tigers, falling into an early 21-3 deficit.

South Carolina battled back in the second half, though, tying the game at 21-21 with a late score in the fourth quarter. An extra point would give the Gamecocks the lead, but the South Carolina kicker missed the boot, and the score seemingly was to remain tied.

But a Clemson player was flagged for jumping offsides, and South Carolina successfully converted the re-kick, which secured a 22-21 Gamecock win.

2006

Clemson entered the matchup in Death Valley at 8-3 and ranked in the top 25. The Gamecocks were 6-5, looking to upend the Tigers on their home field.

Clemson got out to an early lead, taking a 21-14 advantage into the locker room at halftime. They’d increase that to 28-14 in the third quarter.

But the Gamecocks battled back. Two touchdowns later and the score was even at 28-28. Kicker Ryan Succop would make a field goal in the final period to give the Gamecocks their first lead, but Clemson looked as though they’d answer late in the game.

Positioned at the South Carolina 22-yd line, Clemson kicker lined up for the game-tying field goal attempt with just 18 seconds remaining with a chance to send the game to overtime. Clemson’s Jad Dean missed the 39-yd kick, though, securing a 31-28 Gamecock win.

2007

Clemson got their revenge the following year, though. Traveling to Williams-Brice Stadium, the Tigers and Gamecocks came into the game with identical records to the previous season. Clemson was ranked 21st in the nation, and South Carolina was limping into the final week on a four-game losing streak after starting the year 6-1.

Clemson jumped out to an early lead, but the Gamecocks, again, battled back, taking a 21-20 lead in the fourth quarter. It seemed as though South Carolina would pull out another come-from-behind win, but the Tigers had different plans.

Clemson drove the length of the field on their final drive, which ended with a 35-yd kick by Mark Buchholz as time expired to seal the 23-21 Tiger victory. It still stands as the only game in series history to be decided on the game’s final play.