South Carolina football: Possible landing spot in 2020 Bowl Season
By Jacob Elsey
3. LIBERTY BOWL
In ESPN’s most recent bowl projection, the Gamecocks land in the Liberty Bowl, earning a matchup with West Virginia.
South Carolina has played in the Liberty Bowl on two occasions, posting a 1-1 record. In 1988, the Gamecocks lost to to Indiana, 34-10. The program redeemed itself in 2006, taking down Houston 44-36 under Steve Spurrier.
The game’s 62nd edition will pit the SEC against a foe from the Big XII.
4. DUKE’S MAYO BOWL
Formerly the Belk Bowl, the Gamecocks are very familiar with playing in Charlotte. South Carolina has opened two of the last three seasons in Bank of America Stadium, while also matching up with Virginia in a 2018 bowl game.
The Gamecocks have gone 1-2 in those last three meetings, taking down North Carolina State and losing to North Carolina and the previously mentioned Cavaliers, but they hold an all-time record of 3-2 in Bank of America Stadium.
This game typically pits an SEC school with an opponent from the ACC.
5. BIRMINGHAM BOWL
The Birmingham Bowl, played yearly at Legion Field in Alabama, features a matchup between the SEC and American Athletic Conference, with the MAC and Conference USA also having tie-ins.
The Gamecocks have twice made an appearance in Birmingham, going 0-2 with losses to Connecticut (2009) and South Florida (2016).
The most recent matchup matchup with South Florida came in Will Muschamp’s first season at the helm, and pitted the Gamecocks against former defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. South Carolina would fall in an overtime thriller, 46-39.