South Carolina finished 9-4 last season in what marked a breakthrough year for the program. The Gamecocks came close to earning a spot in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
A logical next step would be a playoff berth this year, even competing in the loaded SEC.
The team lost key contributors on both sides of the ball during the offseason. Those departures raised questions about whether 2024 represented the ceiling for this group.
College football insider Antonio Morales with The Athletic doesn’t think so.
“Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart are foundational building blocks and two of the best players in the SEC. So there’s top-end talent and a solid transfer class that helped address some needs in key spots.”
The Gamecocks started slowly last season, going 3-3 through their first six games. They finished on a 6-1 run to reach nine wins.
Sellers dealt with injuries early in the year, which contributed to that rough start. Keeping him healthy should give South Carolina a much better opening to the season.
Morales believes the program is positioned for a playoff push this fall.
“In theory, South Carolina wasn’t far off from a Playoff appearance last year — probably one win away. If the Gamecocks can avoid a similar slow start this season, they should be in contention for a CFP bid late in the year.”
If South Carolina replicates last year’s performance while avoiding the early stumbles, a top-12 seed is very much within reach.
