South Carolina Gamecocks football

History

Early history (1892–1965)

Carolina fielded its first football team on Christmas Eve, in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1892 versus Furman. At that time the football team was not sanctioned by the university. They provided their own uniforms and paid their own train fare in order to participate in the game. They were nicknamed the "College Boys" by The News and Courier and their supporters wore garnet and black.

USC won its first game in its third season, on November 2, 1895, against Columbia AA. The squad designated their first head coach, W. H. "Dixie" Whaley, the following year. The 1896 season also saw the inaugural game against arch-rival Clemson on November 12, which Carolina won 12–6. From 1902 to 1903, coach Bob Williams led the Gamecocks to a 14–3 record. In 1902, South Carolina beat Clemson, coached by John Heisman, for the first time since 1896, the first year of the rivalry. "The Carolina fans that week were carrying around a poster with the image of a tiger with a gamecock standing on top of it, holding the tiger's tail as if he was steering the tiger by the tail", Jay McCormick said. "Naturally, the Clemson guys didn't take too kindly to that, and on Wednesday and again on Thursday, there were sporadic fistfights involving brass knuckles and other objects and so forth, some of which resulted, according to the newspapers, in blood being spilled and persons having to seek medical assistance. After the game on Thursday, the Clemson guys frankly told the Carolina students that if you bring this poster, which is insulting to us, to the big parade on Friday, you're going to be in trouble. And naturally, of course, the Carolina students brought the poster to the parade. If you give someone an ultimatum and they're your rival, they're going to do exactly what you told them not to do."

As expected, another brawl broke out before both sides agreed to mutually burn the poster in an effort to defuse tensions. The immediate aftermath resulted in the stoppage of the rivalry until 1909. 1903 also heralded the program's first 8-win season with an overall record of 8–2. Future senator and former star player for South Carolina and UVA, Christie Benet led the Gamecocks from 1904 to 1905 and 1908 to 1909. 1904's captain Gene Oliver played against Georgia with a broken jaw.

The Board of Trustees banned participation in football for the 1906 season after the faculty complained that the coarseness of chants and cheers, yelled by the students at football games, were not gentlemanly in nature. Within months The Board of Trustees reversed their decision after hearing pleas, and receiving petitions, from students and alumni alike. Play was allowed to resume in 1907. A hastily assembled football team, coached by Board of Trustees member Douglas McKay, competed in an abbreviated season that same year, and the squad won all three games. In 1910, South Carolina hired John Neff from UVA. Norman B. Edgerton coached the team from 1912 to 1915. A. B. Stoney played on the team. Yet another UVA grad, W. Rice Warren coached the 1916 team. Frank Dobson led the war-torn 1918 team to a 2–1–1 record. Coach Sol Metzger led the 1921 team to a 5–1–2 record, losing only to Billy Laval's Furman. Branch Bocock coached the 1925 and 1926 teams.

Paul Dietzel era (1966–1974)

Paul Dietzel arrived in Columbia prior to the 1966 season, having previously coached at LSU, where he won a national championship, and Army.

In 1969, he led the Gamecocks to an ACC championship and an appearance in the Peach Bowl. As a result, Dietzel was named ACC Coach of the Year that season. Soon after, South Carolina left the ACC and became an Independent program prior to the 1971 season. Dietzel finished his USC tenure with a 42–53–1 overall record (18–10–1 ACC). In addition to the 1969 ACC title, Dietzel's legacies at Carolina include his improvement of athletic facilities and his penning of a new fight song, which is still used to this day ("The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way"). Amid growing fan unrest after an upset loss to Duke, Dietzel announced that he would resign at the end of the season, which ended in a 4–7 record.

Jim Carlen era (1975–1981)

Jim Carlen, previously head football coach at Texas Tech and West Virginia, took over as coach in 1975. Under his leadership the program achieved a measure of national prominence. Carlen led the Gamecocks to three bowl games, coached 1980 Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, and produced a 45–36–1 record during his tenure. The Carlen Era included consecutive 8–4 finishes (1979–1980) and only one losing season in seven years. The 1980 season was headlined by senior running back George Rogers, who led the nation in rushing with 1,894 yards. For his efforts, the Downtown Athletic Club named Rogers the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy award. Rogers beat out a strong group of players, including Georgia running back Herschel Walker. Behind the Rogers-led rushing attack, the Gamecocks went 8–4 overall and earned an appearance in the Gator Bowl. In addition, the 1980 Gamecocks defeated a heavily favored Michigan squad coached by the legendary Bo Schembechler. The 17–14 victory in Ann Arbor, which made Rogers a household name, was one of the biggest wins in both the Carlen Era and the program's history. Carlen retired from coaching after seven seasons at USC.

Joe Morrison era (1983–1988)

Joe Morrison was hired in 1983 following a one-year stint by Richard Bell. After a 5–6 mark in his first year, the "Man in Black" led South Carolina to a 10–2 record, No. 11 final AP Poll ranking, and a Gator Bowl appearance in 1984. It was also before the 1984 season began that the team removed the Astroturf that had been in place at Williams–Brice Stadium since the early 1970s and reinstalled the natural grass that remains today. The 1984 season included victories over Georgia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson. The 1984 defense was called the "Fire Ant" defense. In 1987, the Gamecocks posted an 8–4 record, No. 15 Final AP Poll ranking, and another Gator Bowl trip. The 1987 Gamecocks were led by the "Black Death" defense, which held seven opponents to 10 or fewer points and yielded just 141 points in 12 games played. Morrison coached his last game in the 1988 Liberty Bowl, as he died of a heart attack on February 5, 1989, at the age of 51. He finished his USC tenure with a 39–28–2 overall record, three bowl appearances, and three seasons with 8 or more wins. Due to his on-field success and "Black Magic" image (he traditionally wore all black on the sideline and introduced black uniforms into the team's rotation), Morrison remains a popular figure in Gamecock lore. Morrison also began the tradition at Carolina, with his first game in 1983, of the pre-game entrance of the football team being the beginning of Also sprach Zarathustra, the theme from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This is still part of the Carolina football game day experience over 40 years later.

Sparky Woods era (1989–1993)

Following Morrison's death, Sparky Woods was hired away from Appalachian State as head coach in 1989 and coached the Gamecocks until the end of the 1993 season. He posted winning seasons in 1989 and 1990, but could not produce another winning campaign during his tenure. Woods led the USC football program through the transition to the SEC and has the distinction of being South Carolina's first head coach in SEC play, as the Gamecocks entered the conference in 1992. Woods' overall record at South Carolina was 25–27–3.

Brad Scott era (1994–1998)

Brad Scott left his post as offensive coordinator at Florida State and took over as the Gamecocks head coach in December 1993. Despite modest preseason expectations, he led USC to a 7–5 record and a Carquest Bowl victory over West Virginia in his first season. The bowl win was the first post-season victory in the program's long history. However, Scott was unable to capitalize on his early success. USC only had one non-losing record in SEC play during his tenure, only one other winning overall record, and won only six games in his final two seasons. Scott was fired by athletics director Mike McGee after a 1–10 season in 1998 in which the Gamecocks lost their final ten games of the season. Scott's final record at South Carolina was 23–32–1 in five seasons.

Lou Holtz era (1999–2004)

Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz came out of retirement and was hired as USC's head coach in 1999. He inherited a relatively young SEC program (joined in 1992) that posted only three winning seasons from 1990 to 1998. USC won just a single game the year before Holtz's arrival and, subsequently, went 0–11 in his inaugural campaign.

It didn't take long for Holtz to improve the Gamecocks' fortunes, however, as he engineered 8–4 and 9–3 records in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. In addition, USC won consecutive Outback Bowls over Ohio State and produced the most successful two-year run in program history (at the time), going 17–7 overall and 10–6 in SEC play. The 2000 and 2001 campaigns also saw USC's return to the polls, as the Gamecocks turned in No. 19 and No. 13 rankings in the Final AP ballots for those years. After consecutive 5–7 finishes in 2002 and 2003 (in which the team was ranked in the Top 25 during both seasons), Holtz ended his USC tenure on a winning note with a 6–5 record in 2004 before retiring again. Holtz finished with a 33–37 overall record at South Carolina.

In 2005, USC was placed on 3 years probation by the NCAA for actions during the coaching tenure of Lou Holtz, all of which were self-reported by the school. Five of these actions were considered major violations, and included such activities as impermissible tutoring and non-voluntary summer workouts as well as a "lack of institutional control". Coach Holtz pointed out following the close of the investigation, "There was no money involved. No athletes were paid. There were no recruiting inducements. No cars. No jobs offered. No ticket scandal, etc."

Steve Spurrier era (2005–2015)

Former Washington Redskins and Florida head coach Steve Spurrier was hired in 2005 to replace the retiring Lou Holtz. Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a 7–5 record and Independence Bowl appearance in his first season. As a result, Spurrier was named the 2005 SEC Coach of the Year. The 2006 season saw an 8–5 record and a victory over Houston in the Liberty Bowl. In 2007, the Gamecocks started the season 6–1, but would lose all of their next five games. South Carolina posted consecutive 7–6 records in 2008 and 2009, returning to postseason play with appearances in the Outback Bowl and PapaJohns.com Bowl. They also defeated a Top 5 opponent for the first time ever in 2009 when they upset then-No. 4 Ole Miss 16–10 at home on a Thursday night.

In 2010, Spurrier scored another first with the first SEC Eastern Division Championship in school history and the program's first win over a No. 1 team in program history, with a 35–21 victory over top-ranked, defending national champion Alabama. In 2011, Spurrier led USC to its most successful season in program history. The Gamecocks posted an 11–2 overall record, went 6–2 in SEC play, and defeated No. 20 Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl to earn Final Top 10 rankings in the AP and Coaches' Polls (No. 9 and No. 8, respectively). The University of South Carolina was investigated in 2011–12 by the NCAA regarding an estimated $59,000 in impermissible benefits provided to student-athletes including football players including discounted living expenses at a local hotel. The school imposed its own punishment, paying $18,500 in fines and cutting three football scholarships in each of the 2013 and 2014 seasons, and reduction in official recruiting visits for the 2012–13 year. The NCAA accepted these self-imposed punishments.

In 2012 Steve Spurrier, once again, led his South Carolina football team to double-digit wins during the course of the regular season campaign. The 2012 regular season culminated with the annual season-ending game against arch-rival Clemson at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. In 2013, Spurrier and the Gamecocks finished with another extremely successful 11–2 season capped by a 34–22 victory over the No. 19 Wisconsin in the 2014 Capital One Bowl. South Carolina finished with the highest ranking in school history in the AP poll, ranked at No. 4 in the country.

On October 12, 2015, after a 2–4 start to the season, Spurrier announced to his team that he would be resigning, effective immediately. Offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott was named the team's interim head coach. Elliott led the Gamecocks to victory the following week against Vanderbilt but lost the final five games of the season. Many of South Carolina's most successful seasons came during the Steve Spurrier era, including a SEC East Division championship in 2010 and three consecutive eleven win seasons (2011–13). Spurrier also boasted a 6–4 record against the school's in-state rival, Clemson, including five consecutive wins during the 2009–2013 seasons.

Will Muschamp era (2016–2020)

Auburn defensive coordinator and former Florida head coach Will Muschamp was named as South Carolina's new head coach on December 6, 2015.

The Will Muschamp era began with a victory over Vanderbilt by a score of 13–10. After a 2–4 start, Carolina won four of their final six regular season contests, including a 24–21 victory over 18th-ranked Tennessee. The Gamecocks' 2016 campaign ended with a 46–39 overtime loss to South Florida in the 2016 Birmingham Bowl. In 2017 Muschamp led the Gamecocks to a 9–4 season. The season started with a neutral site win against NC State in the Belk Kickoff Game in Charlotte, North Carolina. In conference play South Carolina defeated five SEC schools: Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas, finishing second in the SEC East. They finished the season with a 26–19 victory over Michigan in the Outback Bowl. The 2018 season saw Muschamp and the Gamecocks finish with a 7–5 regular season finish and a 28–0 loss to Virginia in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, NC. South Carolina finished the 2019 season with a mark of 4–8, highlighted by a road upset over Georgia.

The 2020 season was played with a conference-only schedule, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Gamecocks started off the season 2-2, with a win over then No. 15 Auburn. The Gamecocks then lost three straight, allowing 159 points in the process. Muschamp was dismissed as head coach on November 15, 2020, after starting the 2020 season with a 2–5 record with Mike Bobo being named interim head coach for the rest of the season.

Shane Beamer era (2021–present)

On December 6, 2020, University of South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner announced that the school had hired Oklahoma associate head coach/tight ends coach Shane Beamer as its head coach. Beamer, the son of legendary Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, led the 2021 Gamecocks to a 7–6 record, including a 38–21 win in the Duke's Mayo Bowl over North Carolina.

The Gamecocks' 2022 season displayed significant growth under Shane Beamer's leadership in his second year as head coach. Despite inconsistent offensive line play and a lackluster rush defense throughout the season, the Gamecocks finished on a high note, posting an 8–5 record and finishing the season ranked at No. 23 in both the Coaches and AP poll, their first top 25 finish since the 2013 season. Additionally, Shane Beamer became the first coach in program history to win back-to-back games against top ten opponents after beating #5 Tennessee and their in-state rival #8 Clemson in weeks 12 and 13, respectively. South Carolina's dominant 63–38 victory against Tennessee set the record for most points scored by an unranked team against a top-five team in college football history. During that game, South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler gave a legendary performance, throwing for 438 passing yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions, breaking the school record for most touchdown passes in a single game. The Gamecocks were invited to play against the #21 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Although South Carolina played a competitive game with a relatively depleted roster, they ultimately lost to the Irish by a score of 45–38.

The 2023 season saw a setback in the trajectory of the program. Despite quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette having two of the best individual seasons in school history in their final college year, the team was noted by the media for being heavily affected by injuries, particularly from the offensive line. South Carolina finished sixth in the final SEC East, with an overall record of 5–7, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2020.

In 2024, despite media outlets projecting a 13th place finish in the SEC and a middling 3-3 start, the team reeled off six straight wins - its first 6-game win streak since 2013 - to finish the regular season with a 9-3 record, and the first winning record in conference play since 2017. Season highlights included a dominant 44-20 victory against No. 10 Texas A&M at home, a thrilling 4-point victory over No. 23 Missouri at home, and a 17-14 road victory against their archrival, No. 12 Clemson. At the conclusion of the year, Beamer was awarded SEC Coach of the year by the Associated Press and USA Today.

Conference affiliations

South Carolina has affiliated with three conferences and twice been an independent.

Independent (1892–1921)

Southern Conference (1922–1952)

Atlantic Coast Conference (1953–1970)

Independent (1971–1991)

Southeastern Conference (1992–present)

Head coaches

South Carolina has had 36 head coaches. Shane Beamer became head coach in 2020.

† Interim

Championships

Conference championships

South Carolina has won four conference championships. However, the SoCon does not recognize South Carolina as having won the league in 1933 and 1941. The 1965 team won the ACC on the field but due to sanctions that saw them forfeit four ACC wins.

Division championships

The SEC was split into two divisions from 1992 to 2023, with the Gamecocks competing in the SEC East in that time.

Bowl games

South Carolina has 26 bowl appearances, with a 10–16 record overall.

Rivalries

Clemson

The rivalry is the largest annual sporting event by ticket sales in the state of South Carolina. From 1896 to 1959, the Carolina-Clemson game was played on the fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina, and was referred to as "Big Thursday." In 1960, an alternating-site format was implemented utilizing both teams' home stadiums. The annual game has since been officially designated "The Palmetto Bowl". It is the 21st most played college football rivalry at 120 meetings. The Gamecocks won 5 in a row against Clemson between 2009 and 2013, Clemson then won 7 straight, but failed to extend their win streak in the series with a 31–30 loss in 2022. Clemson holds a 73–44-4 all-time lead in the series as of the conclusion of the 2024 season. The South Carolina Gamecocks did not play the Clemson Tigers in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Georgia

A "border rivalry" dating to 1894, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs have met 76 times on the gridiron. The 1980 game was between future Heisman Trophy winners George Rogers and Herschel Walker. Led by Walker's 219 rushing yards, Georgia won 13–10 and would go on to capture the National Championship. Rogers turned in 168 rushing yards during the course of the battle, setting the stage for a successful finish to his senior season and eventual Heisman Trophy award. The matchup has been televised yearly since 1997. The series has been far more competitive since USC joined the SEC in 1992. Georgia holds a 55–19–2 overall lead in the series as of the 2023 season.

Missouri

The "Mayor's Cup" is a budding rivalry between the two schools located in cities named Columbia. The Tigers lead the all-time series 10-6. Although Missouri is the only school to beat the Gamecocks in multiple bowl games, the rivalry began in 2012, when Missouri joined South Carolina in the SEC East. A Mayor's Cup trophy is awarded to the winner of the annual game by the mayors of Columbia, South Carolina and Columbia, Missouri.

Florida

Though South Carolina was the first team in today's Southeastern Conference that Florida ever played, the two teams only played intermittently from 1911 through 1939. The Gators and Gamecocks eventually became annual opponents when South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. Slowly, a rivalry developed as the Gamecocks made a habit of hiring former Florida coaches to lead their program, first with Steve Spurrier from 2005-2015, and then again with Will Muschamp from 2016-2020. Despite Florida holding a commanding 31-10-3 all time series lead, this matchup has nevertheless produced many unforgettable games, the first of which featured Spurrier's Gamecocks denying Florida an SEC East Championship in 2005 with a 30-22 upset. The following year, Florida needed to block Ryan Succop's potential game-winning field goal to keep their BCS Championship hopes alive, and the year after that, Florida's Tim Tebow accounted for seven touchdowns in a game that helped him win the Heisman Trophy. In 2010, Spurrier again led the Gamecocks past his former team to deny them a trip to the SEC Championship Game, this time claiming the SEC East themselves with the program's first ever win in Gainesville. More recent memorable games include South Carolina blocking a field goal and then a punt to force overtime before winning 23-20 in 2014, Florida erasing a 31-14 third-quarter deficit in a shocking 35-31 comeback win in 2018, and Florida storming back from 37-27 down with ten minutes to go and winning 41-39 on a touchdown pass from Graham Mertz to Ricky Pearsall in the final minute in 2023.

Kentucky

South Carolina and Kentucky have played each other 37 times, with the Gamecocks holding a 22-14-1 lead in the rivalry. The series has been played for 34 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1992 when South Carolina joined the SEC. Both programs were members of the SEC's East Division, and they have continued to be yearly opponents following the conference's disbanding of division play. The series has been marked by a large number of close contests, dating back to the 1990's.

Texas A&M

The "Bonham Trophy" rivalry between South Carolina and Texas A&M has been played every year since 2014, with the Aggies holding a 9-2 lead. The trophy is named after South Carolina native James Butler Bonham, who attended the University of South Carolina from 1824-1827 (known then as South Carolina College) and died at the Battle of the Alamo.

North Carolina

The rivalry began in 1903. While no longer a conference rivalry, since South Carolina left the ACC in 1971, the teams still meet occasionally. In the 2010s, the series had been played primarily on a Thursday. It was announced in September 2015 that USC and UNC will play every four years in 2019 and 2023. While North Carolina leads the all-time series 36–20–4 and won the most recent matchup, the Gamecocks have led the series 10-8 since 1971, when the Gamecocks left the ACC.

NC State

The NC State–South Carolina football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the NC State Wolfpack and South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina leads the series 28–26–4.

Both schools were in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) until 1971; they met annually from 1923 to 1935 and 1956 to 1991 (they didn't meet in 1967), when South Carolina was invited to the SEC. Since South Carolina joined the SEC, they have met only four times.

Notable seasons

1933 – Undefeated in the Southern Conference

In 1933, under the direction of the legendary Billy Laval, the Gamecocks went undefeated in conference play. However, Duke would finish with a better conference record by one win and was awarded the championship.

1969 – ACC champions

In 1969, the Gamecocks won the ACC Championship by going undefeated in conference play. In its six ACC matchups, USC outscored its opponents by a 130–61 margin. The squad posted a 7–4 overall record with a Peach Bowl appearance against West Virginia to close the season (14–3 loss). Two years later, South Carolina left the ACC and competed as an Independent for two decades before joining the SEC in 1992.

1980 – Heisman Trophy

In 1980, the Gamecocks had a successful season led by running back George Rogers, who won the prestigious Heisman Trophy and was chosen #1 overall in the 1981 NFL draft. The team finished 8–4, with the biggest win coming against the eventual Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines in front of a crowd of over 104,000 at Michigan Stadium.

1984 – "Black Magic"

Led by Coach Morrison, the 1984 Gamecocks became the first team in school history to win 10 games (10–2 record) and were ranked as high as No. 2 in the polls before losing to an unranked Navy team 38–21 in the 10th game of the season. The Gamecocks finished No. 11 in the final AP Poll. Along the way, they defeated Georgia, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson to earn an appearance in the Gator Bowl against Oklahoma State (21–14 loss). At the time, the No. 11 final ranking was the highest ever achieved by South Carolina. The team was nicknamed "Black Magic" due to their success and their distinctive black jerseys.

2000 – Winless to Top 25

South Carolina made one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history, going from a winless season in 1999 to an eight-win campaign in 2000. Their first win of the season, against New Mexico State, came two years to the day after their previous win, against Ball State on September 2, 1998. South Carolina's turnaround in conference play was also one of the biggest in SEC history, going from 0–8 in 1999, to 5–3 in 2000 including a victory against a heavily favored Georgia team that ended the Gamecocks' SEC losing streak. South Carolina fans tore down the goalposts at Williams-Brice Stadium on both occasions in celebration. On New Year's Day 2001, the Gamecocks defeated Ohio State in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. South Carolina finished the season ranked #19 in the AP Poll and #21 in the Coaches Poll.

2010 – SEC East champions

In 2010, the Gamecocks won their first SEC Eastern Division Championship, going 5–3 in conference play. For the first time in school history, they defeated the No. 1 ranked team in the country (Alabama) and won at Florida in the division-clinching game. The season also included victories over division foes Georgia, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt as well as instate Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson. In their first appearance in the SEC Championship Game, the Gamecocks lost to No. 1 Auburn, 56–17.

2011 – First 11-Win Season

Led by Coach Spurrier, the 2011 Gamecocks achieved its most wins in a single season and finished in the Top 10 for the first time in program history. USC posted an 11–2 overall record, went 6–2 in SEC play, and won the Capital One Bowl to finish No. 9/8 in the final AP and Coaches' Polls (respectively). Along the way, USC defeated Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson to extend its winning streak over its biggest rivals to 3 games. This was also the first season that USC posted a 5–0 record against their SEC Eastern Division opponents.

2012 – Back-to-Back 11-Win Seasons

Spurrier's 2012 Gamecocks went 11–2, with their only losses coming at LSU and at Florida in consecutive weeks. USC defeated rival Clemson 27–17 in Death Valley to end the regular season. They then defeated Michigan 33–28 in the 2013 Outback Bowl with the game decided by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Thompson to Bruce Ellington with under a minute to go. The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 8/7 in the final AP and Coaches' Polls respectively.

2013 – 3 in a Row 11-Win Seasons

Again led by Coach Spurrier, the 2013 Gamecocks went 11–2, with their losses coming at Georgia and at Tennessee. Notable wins included Vanderbilt, UCF, and Missouri all of which finished ranked in the top 25. USC finished the regular season by defeating rival Clemson 31–17, marking Carolina's fifth straight win over their in-state rival. This was also the first Palmetto Bowl between top ten teams, with Carolina and Clemson ranked No. 10 and No. 6 respectively. South Carolina also completed their second consecutive season with an undefeated record on their home field, Williams–Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks' 18 game home win streak, dating back to the 2011 season, was good for the longest home winning streak in the nation at the time. The team ended the season with a 34–24 victory over Wisconsin in the 2014 Capital One Bowl. The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 4 in both the final AP and Coaches' polls, marking the first top five finish in program history.

2022 – Return to the Top 25

The Gamecocks posted an 8–5 record and finished the season ranked at No. 23 in both the Coaches and AP poll, their first top 25 finish since the 2013 season. Shane Beamer became the first coach in program history to win back-to-back games against top ten opponents after beating #5 Tennessee and their in-state rival #8 Clemson. South Carolina's dominant 63–38 victory against Tennessee set the record for most points scored by an unranked team against a top-five team in college football history.

2024 – SEC Coach of the Year

Predicted to win five games and finish thirteenth in the SEC, South Carolina achieved the eighth nine-win season in program history, finishing 4th in the conference. The Gamecocks recorded their first 5–3 conference record since 2017 and the first of Beamer's tenure. They defeated three conference opponents on the road for the first time since 2011. Shane Beamer broke the record for most wins in the first four seasons by a Gamecock head coach, and was named the SEC Coach of the Year.

Following a disappointing and controversial first half of the season, which saw close losses to LSU and Alabama as well as a blowout loss to Ole Miss, the Gamecocks won the last six games in the regular season. In this stretch, South Carolina defeated four straight conference opponents for the first time since 2005; they also defeated four ranked teams and won all three trophy games for the first time in program history. Two of those trophy games were decided by late-game touchdowns. The winning streak earned South Carolina consideration for the College Football Playoff, but they were instead selected to play Illinois in the Citrus Bowl, where they lost.

The Gamecocks were led by redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers as well as a defense ranked among the best in the nation and school history. Senior Edge Rusher Kyle Kennard won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, honoring him as the top defensive player in college football, and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award. Dylan Stewart was named a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Following the regular season, Sellers received consideration as one of the best players in the country.

Award winners & Finalists

Heisman Trophy

George Rogers – 1980 (Winner)

Jadeveon Clowney – 2012 (Finished 6th in Heisman Voting)

Sterling Sharpe – 1987 (Received Votes)

Consensus All-Americans

George Rogers – 1980

Del Wilkes – 1984

Melvin Ingram – 2011

Jadeveon Clowney – 2012

Kyle Kennard - 2024

All-Americans - 47

Chic Harley Award

George Rogers – 1980

Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award

Joe Morrison – 1984

Southern Conference Player of the Year

Steve Wadiak – 1950

Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year

Paul Dietzel – 1969

Independent Coach of the Year

Joe Morrison – 1987

Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year

Alex Hawkins – 1958

Billy Gambrell – 1962

Syvelle Newton joins the "600 Club"

From 2003 to 2006, Syvelle Newton played multiple positions for the Gamecocks and left his mark on the national record books in the process. He became one of only four players in college football history to record 600+ yards passing, rushing, and receiving (each) in a collegiate career. In Newton's four seasons, he posted 2,474 passing yards (20 TD, 13 INT), 786 rushing yards (10 TD), and 673 receiving yards (3 TD). He also returned 6 kickoffs for 115 yards (19.2 average) and made 18 tackles and an assisted sack in limited defensive action.

Traditions

"2001" Entrance – The Gamecocks enter Williams–Brice Stadium to the introduction of Also sprach Zarathustra, popularly known from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This tradition was started by Coach Joe Morrison with his first game in 1983. It is often considered one of the best entrances in college football.

Cockaboose Railroad – In 1990, cabooses renovated in Gamecock colors and decor became part of the USC tailgate scene. They sit on a dormant railroad track near Williams–Brice Stadium.

"If It Ain't Swayin', Then We Ain't Playin" – Originating from a Joe Morrison comment about the reported "swaying" of the Williams–Brice Stadium upper deck during a 38–14 win over Southern California in 1983, "if it ain't swayin', we ain't playin'" became a catchphrase for Carolina fans, even after the East Upper Deck of Williams–Brice Stadium had additional supports added to reduce the swaying.

Sir Big Spur – Sir Big Spur (originally called Cocky Doodle Lou), the university's official live gamecock, attends USC football games.

Cocky – Cocky has been the USC mascot since 1980. Cocky is the four-time "national champion", five-time "All-American" mascot & 2003 winner of the Capital One National Mascot of the Year for the Gamecocks. The "son" of Carolina's original mascot Big Spur, Cocky appears at every USC home football contest, making a "magical" appearance at the climax of the 2001 opening sequence.

"Sandstorm" – Embraced by students in 2009, the song "Sandstorm" by Darude is played before South Carolina starts the game and after South Carolina is kicking the ball to the opposing team after a score; the song is stopped when the kicker makes contact with the football. As the song is played, fans wave white rally towels over their heads, make up-and-down motions and chant "USC" in rhythm. The song has been referred to as South Carolina's "unofficial anthem" and "second fight song".

Tiger Burn – Before facing off their archrival Clemson, South Carolina holds the "Tiger Burn", a pep rally where a tiger statue built by students is burned down. This tradition began in 1902.

Logos and uniforms

Garnet and black have been South Carolina's uniform colors of choice throughout the program's history. The gamecock first appeared on South Carolina's helmet in 1966, and has remained on the helmet in some form since 1969. Since 1975, South Carolina has used the 'Block C' primary logo on its helmets, and has intermittently featured the script "Carolina" and "Gamecocks" on the front of its jerseys. While the jersey used "Gamecocks" for much of the 1980s and early 1990s, it has solely used "Carolina" on its jersey since the late 1990s. Also, as South Carolina's flagship university, USC prominently displays the state flag, and imagery derived from it.

Since 2007, South Carolina has partnered with Under Armour as its official uniform supplier, replacing Russell Athletic. Under Armour has modified the Gamecocks' look several times, with altered piping, varying font sizes, et cetera. For example, before the 2013 season, a new uniform was unveiled with eleven total stripes, the same number of buildings on The Horseshoe, the most famous part of the South Carolina campus and a national historic landmark. In 2016, South Carolina signed a ten-year extension with Under Armour, which at the time was reportedly the second-most valuable deal in the SEC and seventh-most valuable in the nation. This deal will expire on June 30, 2026.

In support of the Wounded Warrior Project, USC wore a special uniform against Florida in 2009, against Auburn in 2011, and against LSU in 2012.

In several seasons, South Carolina has worn "throwback" uniforms, including homages to the 1980s in 2019, and to the 1980 season in 2024.

Retired numbers

The University of South Carolina makes a distinction between retired jerseys and retired numbers. Since 2007, the current athletics department policy states that the school retires jerseys, not numbers. Numbers retired prior to 2007 will continue to be in a retired state, while current and future student-athletes can wear numbers that were affiliated with jersey retirements after 2007.

Four player numbers have been retired, while an additional two player jerseys have been retired.

Gamecocks in the NFL

As of September 2023, South Carolina had 21 players on active rosters in the NFL, which ranked tied for 21st in the country.

The following is a list of Gamecock players in the NFL in any capacity (active rosters, practice squads, reserve lists, et cetera), as of September 2024.

Nate Adkins, TE – Denver Broncos

Jalen Brooks, WR – Dallas Cowboys

Ahmarean Brown, WR – Buffalo Bills

Jadeveon Clowney, LB – Carolina Panthers

Marcellas Dial, CB – New England Patriots

Rico Dowdle, RB – Carolina Panthers

Kingsley Enagbare, OLB – Green Bay Packers

Nick Gargiulo, OL – Denver Broncos

Stephon Gilmore, CB – Minnesota Vikings

Jovaughn Gwyn, G – Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Harris, RB – New England Patriots

Jaycee Horn, CB – Carolina Panthers

Hayden Hurst, TE – Los Angeles Chargers

Ernest Jones, LB – Seattle Seahawks

Javon Kinlaw, DT – New York Jets

Chris Lammons, CB – Indianapolis Colts

Xavier Legette, WR – Carolina Panthers

List of Gamecock first-round draft picks

Sixteen Gamecock players have been selected in the first round of the NFL draft, which is 44th in the nation, as of 2024.

1979: Rick Sanford, DB – New England Patriots

1981: George Rogers, RB – New Orleans Saints

1981: Willie Scott, TE – Kansas City Chiefs

1988: Sterling Sharpe, WR – Green Bay Packers

1993: Ernest Dye, T – Phoenix Cardinals

2000: John Abraham, LB – New York Jets

2004: Dunta Robinson, DB – Houston Texans

2005: Troy Williamson, WR – Minnesota Vikings

2006: Johnathan Joseph, DB – Cincinnati Bengals

2012: Stephon Gilmore, DB – Buffalo Bills

2012: Melvin Ingram, DE – San Diego Chargers

2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE – Houston Texans

2018: Hayden Hurst, TE – Baltimore Ravens

2020: Javon Kinlaw, DT – San Francisco 49ers

2021: Jaycee Horn, DB – Carolina Panthers

2024: Xavier Legette, WR – Carolina Panthers

Future opponents

Conference opponents

From 1992 to 2023, South Carolina played in the East Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the West Division. The SEC expanded the conference to 16 teams and eliminated its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Gamecocks to play against the other members of the conference. Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.

Non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of May 22, 2026.