2024 Season Preview – South Carolina Gamecocks
2023 Record – 5-7; 3-5 SEC
2024 Schedule
- 8/31 – VS Old Dominion
- 9/7 – at Kentucky
- 9/14 – VS LSU
- 9/21 – VS Akron
- 10/5 – VS Ole Miss
- 10/12 – at Alabama
- 10/19 – at Oklahoma
- 11/2 – VS Texas A&M
- 11/9 – at Vanderbilt
- 11/16 – VS Missouri
- 11/23 – VS Wofford
- 11/30 – at Clemson
2023 Recap
South Carolina started the 2023 season with a neutral site game against North Carolina. It was close for the first half, but the Tar Heels pulled away for the win. The Gamecocks bounced back in week two against Furman from the FCS.
The big game of the year was against number one ranked Georgia in Athens. South Carolina came out on fire. They played a near perfect first half and went into the locker room up 14-3. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs roared back with 21 unanswered points to win 24-14.
This started a very disappointing conference stretch for the Gamecocks. They did win their next game against lowly Mississippi State, but then suffered four straight losses, only one of which was by single digits.
There was a bounce back towards the end of the year. South Carolina won their first three games in November. This started with a win against Jacksonville State out of Conference USA. They also won their last two conference games of the season against Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
South Carolina went into their final game of the season against their in-state rival Clemson needing a win to make a bowl game. The offense struggled though. After one touchdown in the first quarter, they would not score again and the Tigers won 16-7. The Gamecocks finished the season at 5-7, 3-5 in SEC play.
2024 Preview
Spencer Rattler was the bright spot for the South Carolina in 2023, but he is now off to the NFL. There are two players vying for the position this season, freshman LaNorris Sellers and Auburn transfer Robby Ashford. Either way, after giving up 41 sacks, the offensive line will have to be stronger to give them a chance.
The running game will have to be better for the Gamecocks as well. They were dead last in the SEC, going for only 85.1 yards per game. Coming in to try to help is Arkansas transfer Raheim Sanders. If he can help add some balance to the offense, South Carolina could take a step forward.
There is more consistency coming back on the defensive side of the ball. It starts with Debo Williams at linebacker. He finished 2023 with an amazing 113 tackles. TJ Sanders also returns after leading the Gamecocks with 4.5 sacks.
Finally, Dylan Stewart is a five-star recruit coming in at defensive end and should have plenty of playing time right off the bat. The defense has a chance to be the highlight of South Carolina in 2024.
2024 Projection
South Carolina starts off conference play early in the season. After an opening game against Old Dominion, the Gamecocks have to play at Kentucky and at home against LSU. Then, they have what should be an easy home game against Akron before a bye week leads them into the toughest stretch of the season.
October has a murderer’s row of games. It starts off with a game at home against Ole Miss. This is followed with road games against Alabama and Oklahoma. This will likely be one of the hardest three game stretches any team has to play during the 2024 season.
Things stay somewhat difficult for South Carolina going into November. It starts with a toss-up game at home against Texas A&M. This is followed by their easiest conference game at Vanderbilt with another toss-up game against Missouri. This three-game stretch will likely determine how big a success the season is.
The Gamecocks end the season with two non-conference games. Wofford is their first opponent out of the FCS. Then, they play against their in-state rival Clemson, a team that has come down some in prestige the last couple years but should still win. South Carolina will end the season with a losing record and miss out on a bowl game for the second straight year at 5-7.
Prediction – 5-7