COLUMBIA — It’s not as bad as it was.

But it’s close.

The South Carolina-Clemson game last year had College Football Playoff implications. There have been dozens of seasons where at the very least, the winner of the rivalry would become bowl-eligible.

Then there’s this year. Clemson is bowl-eligible, obtaining that last week with a victory over Furman after its previous 10 mediocre games. The Gamecocks? It’s been their worst season (4-7) since the 2-8 disaster that got Will Muschamp fired and brought in Shane Beamer. They need a telescope to see the postseason.

As such, this year’s rivalry game, record-wise, brings back sour memories of when each program was again in a river of misery. Clemson can at least somewhat grin thinking of the 1998 and 1999 games as the Tigers won both.

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