The South Carolina football team has yet to participate in a College Football Playoff. The event’s inception came back in 2015, but the Gamecocks haven’t been able to crack the four-team lineup over the last six seasons.
Thanks to a glitch on the ESPN mobile app, though, it appears that the program has skipped over the college selection committee completely and gone straight to the NFL postseason.
Deebo Samuel has officially broken the ESPN App. pic.twitter.com/7de5oDPfjv
— The Spurs Up Show (@TheSpursUpShow) January 17, 2022
After star wide receiver Deebo Samuel scored a late touchdown in the NFL Playoff matchup between the 49ers and Cowboys, ESPN’s app flashed the South Carolina football logo in place of San Francisco’s.
The hilarious mix up had folks on social media reacting in shock.
Lmao 😂 😂 https://t.co/fn8x8SvjW6
— Mickey (@MickeyF74) January 17, 2022
😂@19problemz
— Thom Harman (@thomharman) January 17, 2022
Go (former) #Gamecocks! Amazing player. https://t.co/exMg8on5RK
TFW: ESPN knows *exactly* who the MVP was. https://t.co/Xwzv3qXlTE
— TheFanUpstate (@TheFanUpstate) January 17, 2022
A glitch is the only thing getting USCjr into the playoffs 😂 https://t.co/wMuf1wEBMs
— Austin Halliburton (@AHHalliburton) January 17, 2022
Samuel, a former Gamecock, was one of the game’s stars. He notched a 100-yard performance (38 rec, 72 rush), finding paydirt on a 26-yard rushing touchdown in the second half. That score wound up being the difference in a six-point decision, helping the 49ers reach the next round of the NFL Playoffs.
As for the South Carolina football program, they’re hoping to build upon a surprise season in 2021. The Gamecocks outplayed the expectations of their critics, winning seven games. They capped off the campaign with a decisive blowout over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, which resulted in a mayonnaise bath for head coach Shane Beamer.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1476643440163123201
Another bowl win would continue to show progress in Columbia after the program posted consecutive losing seasons prior to his hiring. Beamer certainly has the Gamecocks pointed in the right direction but making the NFL Playoffs may be too far of a target to shoot for.