College Football: 25 most underappreciated team rivalries of all time

16. Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

One of the most intriguing wrinkles about the rivalry between the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks is the simple fact that they play in different conferences. While not entirely uncommon, having one ACC team (Clemson) and one SEC team (South Carolina) who face-off annually adds a bit more to an already heated in-state rivalry game. Not only are state bragging rights on the line, but so too are conference bragging rights.

Separated by 132 miles, the two schools first played against one another in 1896 in a game that was won by the Gamecocks, 12-6. They’ve played for 107 consecutive games against each other since 1909, making it the second-longest uninterrupted college football rivalry in the FBS. That’s sure to breed quite a bit of bad blood and hatred between these two schools as if duking it out for South Carolina pride wasn’t enough.

Overall, the Tigers have been the dominant force in the game dubbed the Palmetto Bowl. Clemson holds a 70-42-4 record over South Carolina in their meetings, including going 15-7 over the last 22 clashes between the two teams and having won the last five (and, frankly, not looking like they’re going to lose any time soon either).

Clemson’s overall dominance and recent run are reasons the rivalry has become a bit underappreciated. No one is questioning that the fans of both teams care deeply, but the national audience seems to care far less than they have in previous years. Even still, the Palmetto Bowl is always a great scene that adds a ton of value to the college football world at large.