South Carolina football could receive a bowl invite this postseason.
South Carolina ended its season last weekend with a 41-18 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, dropping their overall record to just 2-8 on the year. Still, with bowl game requirements being lifted amid COVID, the Gamecocks may still receive an invite to one of the SEC tie-ins.
Technically, the SEC has 13 spots reserved for the postseason, meaning everyone but last placed Vanderbilt qualifies. Some locations could view the Gamecocks as a better fit to in terms of ticket sales and exposure over, say, a team from one of the Group of Five conferences.
247 Sports contributor Brad Crawford appeared on the Luke Mauro Midday Show this Tuesday to discuss the possible options that the South Carolina football team could find itself in.
Crawford hinted at the Gasparilla Bowl and Liberty Bowl as being possible landing spots for the Gamecocks should they receive an invite and elect to play.
South Carolina has never appeared in the Gasparilla Bowl, which is played each year in Tampa, Florida. In fact, only one SEC team has ever gotten the invite, with Mississippi State taking down Miami (OH) by a score of 17-16 under Dan Mullen in 2016.
The game could match the Gamecocks, if selected, with a school from the ACC, AAC, Big XII, Conference USA, MAC, MWC, or PAC 12. Independents BYU and Army also have tie-ins.
The Gamecocks have played in the Liberty bowl, on two occasions, dropping a 1988 matchup to Indiana and defeating Houston in 2006. This year’s edition will pit an SEC team versus an opponent from the Big XII, with the game being played in Memphis, Tennessee.
South Carolina could certainly benefit from the extra practice time, as it would give the Gamecocks a few extra weeks to mesh following the departures of players and staff from the 2020 roster. New head coach Shane Beamer could evaluate live practices immediately, rather than having to wait until the Spring.
It would also allow for underclassmen to gain some in-game experience as they head into their sophomore or junior seasons.
Bowl game selections should be announced in the coming weeks as teams finish out their regular seasons. The Gamecocks will have to wait and see if they get that call, but if they do, it seems like the players will be ready.
"“If we are invited to a bowl game we are more than happy to go compete as always for our university and fans.” -Dak Joyner“I’d welcome any opportunity to play against somebody and try to get a win.” -Adam Prentice“We’re going to welcome any opportunity to play… When that opportunity presents itself, we’re going to be ready to go, whoever it is and wherever it is.” -Luke Doty"
The Gamecocks have played in 23 bowl games as a program. Let’s see if they get a chance at 24 this postseason.