Meeting No. 59 · Saturday, November 11, 1961

1961 Clemson vs. South Carolina: South Carolina 21, Clemson 14

South Carolina beat Clemson 21-14 on November 11, 1961, at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, S.C., in the 59th meeting of the rivalry.

FinalCarolina Stadium, Columbia, SC
Clemson 14
South Carolina 21

Quick answers

Who won?
South Carolina
Final score
South Carolina 21, Clemson 14
When and where
Saturday, November 11, 1961 · Carolina Stadium, Columbia, SC
Series after this game
Clemson leads 34-22-3
Clemson 34-22-3Series after this game
South CarolinaWon the most recent meeting
59 of 122Meeting number
7 ptsMargin
35 ptsCombined points
Clemson 1, SC 11960s through this game

How the game went

In 1961, the USC fraternity Sigma Nu pulled what some have called the greatest prank in the rivalry’s history. A few minutes before Clemson football players entered the field for pre-game warm ups, a group of Sigma Nu fraternity members ran onto the field, jumping up and down and cheering in football uniforms that resembled the ones worn by the Tigers. This caused the Clemson band to start playing “Tiger Rag,” which was followed by the pranksters falling down as they attempted to do calisthenics. They would also do football drills where guys would drop passes and miss the ball when trying to kick it. Clemson fans quickly realized that they had been tricked, and some of them angrily ran onto the field. However, security restored order before any blows could be exchanged. The Carolina frat boys had also acquired a sickly cow they planned to bring out during halftime to be the “Clemson Homecoming Queen”, but the cow died en route to the stadium. Carolina won the game 21–14.

Source: Wikipedia

1961 South Carolina vs. Clemson Game Program

Game facts

DateSaturday, November 11, 1961
SiteCarolina Stadium, Columbia, SC
MeetingNo. 59 (Home-and-home era)

Next up · Meeting No. 123

The next Palmetto Bowl

Saturday, November 28, 2026

Sources