South Carolina Football: The Michigan Wolverines won a title; Why Gamecock fans still claim to own them

The Michigan Wolverines just won the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night, and their fanbase (rightfully) will be celebrating until next season begins in August. However, as many South Carolina football fans have pointed out with their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks, the Gamecocks own the Wolverines.

By "own," these fans mean that USC is 3-1 all-time against Michigan, and they've won two in a row in the series. The 2017-2018 Outback Bowl saw the Gamecocks overcome a 19-3 deficit in the game's final 18 minutes.

But it is the 2012-2013 Outback Bowl that is the most famous.

In a back-and-forth contest in Tampa, Florida, the Gamecocks ended up getting the better of the Wolverines.

But it was "The Hit" from Jadeveon Clowney that is most remembered from that day.

For reasons only known to referee Jeff Maconaghy, the Michigan Wolverines were awarded a 1st down on a fake punt despite coming up two inches short of the line to gain upon measurement. The normally very professional Mike Tirico exclaimed from the booth, "What is he looking at?!" after the call, but Mr. Clowney came through with the greatest "Ball Don't Lie" moment in the history of football (and one of the biggest hits ever) by decapitating Wolverine running back Vincent Smith on the next play and recovering the ensuing fumble with one giant paw.

Clowney and the Gamecocks would go on to win the game on a pass from Dylan Thompson (playing for an injured Connor Shaw) to Bruce Ellington in the closing seconds. Even that iconic moment is forgotten by many because of Clowney's play earlier in the game.

So, Michigan Wolverines fans: enjoy your national title. South Carolina football fans hope to one day be able to do the same. But, until they play again, the Gamecocks hold the head-to-head bragging rights.