Clemson and South Carolina Set for Storied Baseball Rivalry

Coaches say records and stats don't matter in this intense college baseball matchup.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Clemson and South Carolina are set to renew their storied baseball rivalry this weekend, with Clemson head coach Erik Bakich calling it "the greatest rivalry college baseball has to offer." The two teams will face off in a three-game series, with the opener on Friday in Columbia, the second game on Saturday in a neutral site, and the finale on Sunday in Clemson.

Why it matters

The Clemson-South Carolina baseball rivalry is one of the most intense and historic in college sports. The two programs have a long history of fierce competition, with both teams typically fielding strong squads that compete for conference and national titles. This weekend's series will be a showcase of the passion and pride that goes into this rivalry.

The details

Clemson enters the weekend with a perfect 8-0 record and a No. 15 national ranking, while South Carolina is off to a 6-2 start. Despite the gap in the teams' current records and rankings, Bakich says that stats and records "can be thrown out the window" when it comes to this rivalry series, as anything can happen when the two teams take the field.

  • The series opener is on Friday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET in Columbia.
  • The second game is on Saturday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Segra Park.
  • The series concludes on Sunday, February 27 at 3:00 p.m. ET in Clemson.

The players

Erik Bakich

The head coach of the Clemson Tigers baseball team.

Clemson Tigers

The baseball team from Clemson University, currently ranked No. 15 in the country with an 8-0 record.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The baseball team from the University of South Carolina, off to a 6-2 start in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Now we get to turn our attention to obviously why all you guys are here, for the greatest rivalry college baseball has to offer. There's no better rivalry than Clemson and South Carolina.”

— Erik Bakich, Clemson Head Coach (on3.com)

“You can take stats and take records and throw them all out the window for this series. It's gonna come down to who plays better.”

— Erik Bakich, Clemson Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The winner of the series will gain an early advantage in the race for the conference title and a potential NCAA Tournament berth.

The takeaway

The Clemson-South Carolina baseball rivalry is one of the most storied and intense in college sports. Despite the gap in the teams' current records, both coaches know that anything can happen when these two programs meet on the diamond, making this weekend's series a must-watch event for college baseball fans.