This is OUR state

67-42-4.

That is Clemson's record against South Carolina. The Tigers own a 25-game lead in a series that is the second longest running rivalry game in the country (107 straight games; trails Wisconsin-Minnesota currently at 109).

The Palmetto Bowl rivalry between Clemson and South Carolina takes a backseat to no one. Sure Alabama-Auburn or Ohio State-Michigan or OU-Texas have had more meaningful games in their series history. But the hatred between fans of the Tigers and Gamecocks is on equal footing as those rivalries.

Clemson currently owns a two-game winning streak. It comes on the heels of a South Carolina five-game streak. That was a first in the rivalry's history. 

You see, Clemson is used to beating South Carolina. The Tigers have had a four-game or more winning streak eight different times through the years. The Gamecocks have done it twice. 

Clemson's longest streak is seven (1934-40). The Tigers have had two four-game streaks since 1997. 

South Carolina's longest is the five-game streak it had from 2009-13. Prior to that, the only streak to reach four wins was from 1951-54.

USC or Carolina, as it's known throughout the state of South Carolina, won the first game of the series in 1896. That year was the fourth for USC's program and the first at Clemson. Carolina won 12-6. That's the last time the Gamecocks led the series. Clemson won four in a row and 13 of the next 16 (two SC wins and one tie). Clemson blanked South Carolina nine times in those 13 wins, allowing a total of 31 points. The Tigers reigned supreme and haven't looked back in the series.

Until the last decade, the Gamecocks were a sub-.500 program all-time. They'd won one conference title (1969 ACC Championship) and one SEC East title in 2010. They were a middling program, usually picked behind the SEC East powers (Florida, Georiga, Tennessee) and just ahead of the cellar dwellers (Vanderbilt and Kentucky). 

Clemson won the 1981 national championship and currently owns 15 ACC championships - tied for most in the league with Florida State - along with six other conference championships from previous affiliations. Of course, the Tigers played for it all again last year.

If you're from the Palmetto State, you must pick a side.

But this game means everything in the Palmetto State. Families are split. You're born into it and you don't have a choice. You're either a Tiger or a Gamecock. You live with folks on either side. You go to school with friends of both teams. You work alongside the enemy.

For 364 days a year, you're reminded about that last November encounter - or you're the one doing the reminding. Then, that 365th day comes and everything reaches fever pitch. Whether in Williams-Brice Stadium or Death Valley, fanbases on both sides converge for a day of tailgating, football ... and hate.

The moment those orange-clad fans spot garnet clothing, you'll hear a familiar refrain: "Cock-a-doodle-do! Cock-a-doodle-do! Carolina Gamecocks to hell with you!" A Gamecock fan will reply back with a "Clem-sucks!" And the back-and-forth spewing goes on all day.

Rivalry jokes are aplenty. Stories of games are recounted at annual family gatherings, such as Thanksgiving. It's all in good fun, ribbing your family members for their latest loss.

One day a year, though, it's all hate. The build-up to this week starts with quotes from players and coaches. It boils to highlight videos from previous years. Thanksgiving dinners are prepared and predictions are made at the table. Other games serve as an appetizer to ours. Saturday arrives and you could cut the tension in the air like a hot knife through butter.

We've won too much in this series and have too much riding on the line to let our feathered friends from Columbia ruin our season. That record, 67-42-4, is that way for a reason.

Rivalry? No. That's just a cute moniker because we share a backyard.

This is domination. This is our state.

Beat the Gamecocks.

-BtW