South Carolina football: ranking this season’s matchups from least to most anticipated

3. FLORIDA

South Carolina has had Florida on the ropes in each of the last two seasons, only to watch second half leads evaporate in the fourth quarter. A dark horse to win the SEC title, the Gators return a plethora of talent, starting with quarterback Kyle Trask.

The Gamecocks feel that they’ve given the last two meetings away, and should be hungry to get back in the win column. They’ll travel to the Swamp in 2020.

2. GEORGIA

The Bulldogs are always near the top of the list when it comes to evaluating the South Carolina schedule. The games are typically close, even when the Gamecocks are seemingly outmatched (see last year). And Georgia has a lot of unknowns to sort through before the season’s start.

Two new transfer quarterbacks will battle for the starting spot, D’Andre Swift must be replaced, and young wide receivers will be asked to step up. Still, the Dawgs always have talent, particularly on defense. The matchup could be another low scoring slugfest, and Georgia will be out for revenge after last season’s double overtime setback.

1. AUBURN

The Gamecocks are usually looking forward to playing another Tiger squad at the end of the year, but this year will be a little different. Auburn tops the list of most exciting matchups, for many reasons.

First, we could have a super sophomore battle of quarterbacks in Ryan Hilinski and Bo Nix. Which of these highly touted signal callers can have the most success? We’ve also got defensive mastermind Will Muschamp going up against offensive guru Gus Malzahn.

South Carolina hasn’t had much success in the past versus the Tigers, as Auburn has won the last eight meetings. Many of those, though, have been well within the Gamecocks’ grasp, before having the Tigers pull the rug out from underneath the team’s feet.

The latest meeting was a 42-35 thriller in 2014. A fourth quarter score by Nick Marshall proved to be the difference there.

There was the 16-13 Auburn upset in Williams-Brice Stadium in 2011 that kept the Gamecocks out of the SEC title game. The Tigers scored the game-winning touchdown with under two minutes remaining.

The year prior, Cam Newton and Co. turned four South Carolina second half turnovers into a 35-27 come-from-behind win on their way to a national title.

The game has produced entertaining matchups over the last few meetings and Gamecock fans should be excited for the newly added cross-divisional contest.