Here are five takeaways from South Carolina’s loss at Clemson on Saturday, one that book-ended a disappointing season for the Gamecocks:

1. Clemson freshmen come up big: First-year players DeShaun Watson (quarterback), Artavis Scott (wide receiver) and Wayne Gallman (running back) dissected the SEC’s second-worst defense for 465 yards and five touchdowns to snap the Tigers’ five-game skid in the rivalry series. Watson left the game twice temporarily due to injury but returned to cause headaches against a poor-tackling unit.

2. Outside containment non-existent: Clemson scored twice on jet sweep shovel passes to Scott, spanning 53 yards and 70 yards, leaving defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward searching for answers on the sideline. On both plays, Scott raced around the edge away from the Gamecocks’ defensive line and made defensive backs, notably Chris Moody, miss tackles in the secondary. South Carolina’s defensive line, its biggest weakness this season, was out-muscled at the point of attack.

3. South Carolina’s red zone execution lacked: A failed trip to the red zone late in the third quarter summed up the Gamecocks’ struggles against the Tigers’ senior-driven front seven and caused Spurrier to drop his head on the sideline. Trailing 28-10, Mike Davis pushed South Carolina inside Clemson’s 5 with a 12-yard burst, but that’s when things went sour. On 1st-and-Goal, Thompson tried to find a wide open Pharoh Cooper rolling to his right, but the pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage. Another incomplete pass followed by a failed quarterback draw put the Gamecocks in a fourth-down situation. With the play clock winding down, Spurrier declined calling timeout only to see Thompson rush a throw to Shaq Roland in the corner for a turnover on downs.

4. Dylan Thompson suffered disappointing outing, thanks to offensive line play: Clemson’s top-ranked defense nationally dominated at the point of attack, registering a season-best 13 tackles for losses and four sacks including Vic Beasley’s tackle and strip of Thompson in the second quarter that led to a touchdown. Thompson, who beat the Tigers in 2012, was shaky throughout and rarely had time to find his receivers. Thompson’s 59-yard completion to David Williams in the fourth quarter gave him the school’s single-season yardage record. After the game, the fifth-year senior was asked if he could take solace in the achievement despite the loss. “No,” Thompson said.

5. Staff changes imminent: Spurrier declined to answer questions pertaining to his coaching staff after Saturday’s game, but this season’s performance would suggest at least one — if not more — assistant coaches will be reassigned after a 6-6 finish. Notable coaches under the microscope with be defensive line coach Deke Adams and Ward.