South Carolina football: crafting the perfect 2020 schedule

The South Carolina football team is set to begin its 2020 schedule on Sept. 26th but all of its opponents are not yet known. What would a perfect slate for the Gamecocks look like?

The SEC has announced its plan to move to a 10-game, conference only schedule in 2020, as the Coronavirus pandemic has filled the college football landscape with uncertainty. Though the call to move to a 10-game format has been made, not all of the matchups have been set in stone.

With the SEC’s decision, each team will play its originally scheduled SEC slate, with two more opponents being selected from the opposing division to fill the 2020 season out. In this case, it means the Gamecocks will face two foes from the group of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State.

There is a belief that the conference will simply add the next teams in line on the cross-division rotation. In South Carolina’s case, that would mean Auburn and Arkansas could find their ways onto the Gamecocks’ schedule. This may be the fairest approach, but is it the best-case scenario for the South Carolina program?

Maybe not, as the Gamecocks haven’t beaten Auburn in their last eight meetings. It would also add another tough road opponent to a schedule that already includes Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, and defending national champion LSU.

Instead, let’s look at the ideal scenario for a 2020 South Carolina season, starting with a week one matchup with UGA.

WEEK 1: GEORGIA

Originally slated for the first week of November, it may be beneficial for the Gamecocks to get the Bulldogs out of the way early in the year, as they’ll be breaking in a new offensive coordinator, starting quarterback, and starting tailback.

Jake Fromm and DeAndre Swift are off to the NFL, and James Coley has moved on to an assistant role with Texas A&M. A week one matchup could be the best time to knock the Bulldogs off, while the offense is still working out a few kinks.

WEEK 2: @LSU

Similar to the Georgia matchup, this one was originally slated for November. LSU is also breaking in a new signal caller in Myles Brennan, and offensive assistant Joe Brady is off to the Carolina Panthers after revitalizing the LSU unit under Heisman winner Joe Burrow.

The Gamecocks must travel to Baton Rouge, and will need every advantage they can get to knock off the defending national champs. Playing the Tigers before the offense really gets clicking would be beneficial to the South Carolina defense.

WEEK 3: BYE

WEEK 4: @MISSISSIPPI STATE

This would be the first matchup against an opponent not on the original 2020 schedule. The Bulldogs are moving on to a new head coach, hiring offensive mastermind Mike Leach following the conclusion of last season. They’ll also have a transfer quarterback coming in, as KJ Costello left the west coast after a very productive career at Stanford, to join Leach and Co. in Starkville.

Again, with a program in transition, it may be best to play before that Air Raid offense really gets churning. This would be a road game in this hypothetical 2020 scenario.

WEEK 5: TEXAS A&M

A home matchup with the Aggies is next on the list. Texas A&M will bring an experienced group into Columbia, led by senior Kellen Mond. The Gamecocks have yet to take down the Aggies, though they’ve been close on numerous occasions. The home setting would benefit South Carolina, but this would still be a tough October matchup against what could be a top 10 team.

WEEK 6: @KENTUCKY

South Carolina must travel to Lexington in 2020, after taking down the Wildcats for the first time in six tries a year ago. Kentucky loses do-it-all receiver Lynn Bowden, but returns the majority of their star power next year, headlined by dual threat quarterback Terry Wilson, Jr.

The Wildcats will present a tough matchup for the Gamecocks, as they’ve seemed to have their number over the last handful of seasons, but it’s a meeting that South Carolina can’t avoid in 2020.

WEEK 7: ARKANSAS

The second new opponent to be added to the slate, Arkansas would be an ideal foe for the Gamecocks. The Razorbacks are breaking in a new coach, and Sam Pittman has quite the rebuild on his hands. This November contest would be one of the least difficult, on paper, of the 2020 season. Arkansas presents a more favorable matchup than Alabama, Auburn, or Ole Miss.

WEEK 8: BYE

WEEK 9: @FLORIDA

Florida will be a threat in the SEC East race, and a possible top 10 opponent by this late season matchup. There’s no getting around the meeting, which will take place in Gainesville. South Carolina has been close to knocking off the Gators in each of the last two years, and playing this game after a bye week could help the Gamecocks’ chances.

WEEK 10: TENNESSEE

Tennessee got the best of the Gamecocks last year, ending a three-game Carolina winning streak. In 2020, though, South Carolina gets to play the Volunteers in Columbia, where they’ve won six of the last seven series matchups.

WEEK 11: @VANDERBILT

South Carolina travels to Nashville to face a Commodore team that may struggle in 2020. After a long season of playing all SEC competition, Vanderbilt may be a bit worn out and unmotivated. The Gamecocks will look to make it 12 straight in the series.

WEEK 12: MISSOURI

The battle of the Columbias as the season finale? These Tigers won’t be quite as difficult to take down as the Tiger team that South Carolina typically finishes the season off with. Missouri brings in a new coach and a new quarterback as they’ll look to improve upon a six-win campaign from a year ago.

The Gamecocks can hope for this schedule in 2020, though their draw likely won’t be as accommodating. The SEC is expected to release the slate for the upcoming season in the coming weeks.