South Carolina football: Clemson game should be in Columbia in 2021

South Carolina football may host its archrival in 2021 season.

South Carolina and Clemson had one of the longest streaks in college football history broken in 2020, as the annual rivalry matchup was canceled due to the scheduling conflicts surrounding the Coronavirus after 111 straight meetings.

That cancelation not only ended that historic streak, but it also throws a wrench into future scheduling when looking at where the game should be played next season. If the rotation were to stay true, the game would be played in Clemson, since the last meeting took place in Columbia in 2019.

But if the location was changed, it could have an affect on other out of conference foes on the schedule, both for the Gamecocks and Tigers.

For example, the Gamecocks are set to travel to East Carolina in 2021, finishing out a home and home series with the Pirates. That away game was set up due to the fact that Clemson was slated to return to Columbia next year, giving South Carolina three home contests and one away contest with out of conference opponents, which is typical.

On the Clemson side, they’ve set up out of league games with the likes of Georgia and Notre Dame in the next couple of years. Again, the locations those meetings were arranged partially based on the supposed rotation of the annual rivalry matchup.

South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said he has been in communication with Clemson’s director Dan Radakovich, noting that nothing has been formalized quite yet. He did, however, state that he believes the game will come back to Columbia.

"“I anticipate that our schedules will probably remain intact because it would be very difficult for us and them, not just next year, but many years to come if we flipped the schedule. But we haven’t had a formal conversation about that.”"

If it holds true, South Carolina will have the luck of catching what’s likely to be a highly ranked opponent in the friendly confines of Williams-Brice Stadium.