South Carolina Football’s Greatest Season of All-Time:
2012 (11-2)
The 2012 South Carolina football team is the best overall team in the history of the Gamecock program. Just like in 2011 and 2013, the Gamecocks were the SEC East’s best squad but missed out on playing in the SEC Championship Game. If one loss changed, South Carolina would have been in the game, would have likely won the game, and would have earned a national championship game opportunity.
All-American (and eventual #1-overall NFL Draft pick) Jadeveon Clowney had the best defensive line season in Gamecock history when he tallied 13 sacks in 12 games, including 4.5 against Clemson in the rivalry victory. Marcus Lattimore got off to a tremendous start before a devastating knee injury ended his football career. Lattimore received significant Heisman Trophy buzz before his injury, and Clowney finished fifth in the voting for the prestigious award despite being a defensive player. Clowney’s season ended with “The Hit” against Michigan.
Connor Shaw came into his own as the starting quarterback in 2012, and Dylan Thompson performed well while Shaw was hurt, but a ridiculous stretch of schedule that included three straight top-10 matchups (including the second and third on the road) led to two Carolina losses. The Gamecocks won every other game on the schedule. A blowout of top-5 Georgia, a classic Clemson win known as “The Dylan Thompson Game,” and a barnburner against Michigan in the Outback Bowl were the biggest highlights of what was the greatest season in Gamecock history.