This one is special. Just like last week’s — only better.

South Carolina’s special teams played a major role in their first 7 wins, and they did it again for No. 8.

Yet, this was true team effort that clearly has changed the narrative of the program from pretender to contender. The Gamecocks (8-4)  took every punch No. 8 Clemson (10-2) could offer and responded with more of their own to make the difference.

South Carolina’s 31-30 upset at Death Valley snapped the Tigers’ 40-game home winning streak. It also ended the Tigers’ 7-game winning streak against the Gamecocks. And, as if those factors weren’t enough, the Gamecocks officially ended any remaining sliver of hope Clemson had of returning to the College Football Playoff.

All thanks largely to the late heroics of their special teams, yes, but all three phases contributed to a win for the ages.

Coach Shane Beamer’s club became the first team in the annals of Gamecocks’ football to beat top-10 opponents in consecutive weeks after they throttled Tennessee last week.

Championship-caliber football is alive again on the other side of the state.

It’s about time Columbia shook with this kind of excitement.

In like some of their previous outings against Georgia and Arkansas when faced with momentum swings, the Gamecocks could have easily folded Saturday against a team they hadn’t beaten since 2013. Instead, they exhibited their newfound character and grittiness that has raised them to the next level. Beating 3 ranked teams — 2 on the road — can do it.

Kicker Mitch Jeter’s 35-yarder with 10:54 let in the game was the difference, but pinter Kai Kroeger played a pivotal role with punts of 63 and 61 yards that backed up the Tigers on drives. Kroeger had 7 punts for a 53.7 average on the afternoon. Three of those punts pinned Clemson inside its 10-yard line.

Special teams coach Pete Lembo’s unit sealed the deal when Clemson’s Antonio Williams fumbled Kroeger’s final punt and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori recovered on the Clemson 44-yard line.

However, the day truly belonged to not-so-much-maligned-anymore Gamecocks’ quarterback Spencer Rattler, who overcame an opening-drive pick-6 as well as a 14-point lead.

For the second consecutive week, Rattler showed his true potential, working through a slow start and another interception to finish the day 25-of-39 for 360 yards with two touchdowns.

Rattler rallied the Gamecocks in the second quarter after he had been flagged for intentional grounding that resulted in a safety. He took his team 37 yards on 4 plays after the Gamecocks recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown scramble.

Thanks to some creative play-calling by offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, Rattler had success\ finding his receivers in the flat as well as against some single coverage downfield.

Rattler threw a perfect strike downfield to Antwane “Juice” Wells for a 72-yard score that brought the Gamecocks to within 30-28 with 3:45 left in the third quarter. Rattler also earlier hooked up with JuJu McDowell for a 65-yarder on a gutsy 4th-and-1 call.

Rattler and Wells clearly have the chemistry needed as the duo combined for 9 catches after they united for 11 catches the previous week.

Aside from the offense, the Gamecocks’ defense settled into their game, and they were able to apply pressure on equally-embattled Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in the second half to keep his game off-balance. They also corraled Clemson’s running game in the second half, holding the Tigers to 87 yards in the second half after they ran loose for 150 yards in the opening half.

Marcellas Dial stopped a key drive late in the game with his third interception of the season.

Now, South Carolina finds itself with an 8-4 record and a new state of respectability as they will await their fate in the upcoming bowl season.

It is a special time for the Gamecocks.