Clemson Edges USC in Blood Bowl Tradition, Fueling Critical Lifesaving Donations

The Blood Connection (TBC) is announcing Clemson University as the winner of the 41st Annual Blood Bowl, against the University of South Carolina (USC). Blood Bowl is a campus tradition that leads into one of the most anticipated rivalry football games of the season. Donors across both campuses helped save thousands of lives through this year’s competition.

Each fall, the powerhouse schools compete to see which campus can collect the most units of blood. Students, faculty, staff and fans rolled up their sleeves to donate blood on campus. Across both campuses, 5,329 donors rolled up their sleeves, contributing nearly 16,000 potential lives saved. Clemson collected 3,332 units, while USC collected 1,997 units, bringing the all-time series to 22-18 in Clemson’s favor.

“The spirit of this event shows the real impact these universities have when they rally behind a shared purpose,” said Delisa K. English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection. “Blood can only be given, so patients rely on donors to keep their care moving forward. We are grateful to both campuses for supporting their communities in such a powerful way.”

Founded in 1984 by former TBC technician Barbara Cartwright, Blood Bowl is a way to rally rival campuses around a unifying cause. Over four decades later, the event has generated more than 120,000 units of blood for patients across the Carolinas and remains one of the region’s most impactful examples of community-driven service.

If you missed Blood Bowl, visit thebloodconnection.org for more information on how you can donate, host a drive and save lives in your community.