COLUMBIA, S.C. – The long-running debate over whether South Carolina and Clemson should face off on Black Friday continues to stir conversation, with both programs holding firm in their positions — but change may finally be on the horizon.
For years, fans and media alike have floated the idea of moving the annual Palmetto Bowl from its traditional Saturday spot to the day after Thanksgiving. The idea has generated plenty of talk, but no action — until now.
According to the most recent contract between the two schools, the 2027 matchup could potentially be scheduled for either Friday, Nov. 26, or Saturday, Nov. 27.
“That was news to me. I’ve got more important matters to worry about right now, not when we’re playing Clemson in 2027,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said with a laugh on Tuesday. “Those are conversations that Coach (Ray) Tanner and I had two years ago before the ’23 season. There was talk about us potentially doing that. There was talk about the possibility of that happening last year. So I know it’s been something that has been talked about at different times.”
The 2027 contest is set to be played at Williams-Brice Stadium, which could make the Black Friday option more likely. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has previously expressed opposition to the move — unless the game takes place in Columbia.
Swinney believes playing on Saturday better accommodates traveling fans, recruiting logistics, and local businesses that thrive on game-day revenue in Clemson, a smaller town than Columbia. “It’s just not what’s best for Clemson,” Swinney has said in the past, emphasizing that a Friday game would disrupt the rhythm of Thanksgiving weekend and affect recruiting schedules.
Beamer, however, sees major upside in the idea — particularly when it comes to national exposure.
“Everybody in the country was watching that Georgia-Georgia Tech game last year that was on Friday night, including me, who stayed up way too late watching that game before a 12 noon kickoff at Clemson the next day,” Beamer said. “And I’m assuming our players were all up late. But you have the eyes of the country, Friday night primetime. So there’s a lot of positives from that standpoint.”
The Georgia–Georgia Tech game drew 8.5 million viewers on average, peaking at 11.5 million, and Beamer believes a South Carolina–Clemson clash could attract similar attention.
Still, both coaches acknowledge the recruiting complications that could come with a Friday matchup. Many high school teams in South Carolina are still competing in playoff games at that time, making it difficult for recruits to attend.
“I think there’s a lot of different dynamics,” Beamer said. “Ultimately, you want to do what’s best for your team. You also want to do what’s best for your fan base. And I think there’s a lot of positives in it, and there’s some drawbacks in it as well.”
Beamer added that he and athletic director Jeremiah Donati haven’t yet revisited the topic but expect to do so in the future. “I’m kind of indifferent towards it,” he admitted. “I see the positives on both ends of it.”
For now, the Palmetto Bowl will stick to its traditional format. Clemson will travel to Columbia this year to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 29, with kickoff set for noon on ABC at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Whether or not the rivalry eventually shifts to Black Friday, one thing is certain — the conversation isn’t going away anytime soon.
