South Carolina football: Ranking games from easiest to most difficult
By Jacob Elsey
South Carolina football schedule ranking: No. 3-5
No. 5 – Auburn Tigers, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
South Carolina upset Auburn last year, and you can be sure the Tigers haven’t forgotten. Making things a bit more interesting is the fact that Mike Bobo bolted for the Plains just days after renewing a contract to stay on staff with Shane Beamer during the offseason. This one could get testy.
Auburn returns signal caller Bo Nix, as well as one of the nation’s top backs in Tank Bigsby. They figure to be ranked heading into the season and could maintain that ranking throughout the year. This contest comes the week prior to each team’s season ending rivalry matchup, but neither team should get caught looking ahead. We’ll get to see two potent rushing attacks with Kevin Harris still toting the rock for the Gamecocks. It should be a fun one to watch.
No. 4 – Florida Gators, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
South Carolina can’t seem to get the proverbial monkey off its back against the Gators. The last three meetings have been close, but all three have gone Florida’s way. Last year, the Gamecocks overcame a 38-14 second half deficit, and had a chance to make it a one score game late in the fourth quarter. That comeback effort fell short, though, with the Gators leaving The Swamp with a 38-24 victory. Questionable calls aided Florida in wins in 2018 and 2019, but South Carolina is hoping to end that three-game skid in Shane Beamer’s inaugural campaign.
Florida is replacing a ton of talent on offense, including first-round pick Kyle Pitts and 4,000-yard passer Kyle Trask. It could be a team South Carolina can sneak up on for a potential upset bid next year.
No. 3 – Texas A&M Aggies, Kyle Field, College Station, TX
South Carolina has struggled mightily with the Aggies since their joining the SEC in 2014. In that time, the Gamecocks have dropped all seven meetings, with the last two coming by a combined score of 78-9.
Texas A&M does lose four-year starter Kellen Mond under center, but they return a running back room that’s one of the SEC’s best. They’ll also get a ton of talent back on defense as they look to dethrone Alabama in the western division. This will be a very difficult matchup for the Gamecocks, particularly with the game being played at Kyle Field.