South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest Gamecock football seasons of all-time

South Carolina football's only Heisman Trophy winner, running back George Rogers, dominated the 1980 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina football's only Heisman Trophy winner, running back George Rogers, dominated the 1980 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
2 of 11
South Carolina Football
South Carolina football’s only Heisman Trophy winner, running back George Rogers, dominated the 1980 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina Football’s No. 10 Greatest Season of All-Time:
1980 (8-4)

The season of George Rogers was a special one in Columbia. Rogers put up over 1800 yards from scrimmage for the second season in a row, almost exclusively as a rusher as he caught just 23 yards worth of passes. Big George was the clear Heisman winner, even over the best freshman season in college football history from Herschel Walker, as he scored one-third of the Gamecocks’ touchdowns on the season and rushed for the 7th-most yards in college football history up to that point.

Carolina rode on the back of Rogers all the way to 8 victories despite having some big holes on the roster outside of the running back position. 1980 ended with disappointment as Carolina lost in a bowl game (this time the Gator Bowl) for the second year in a row, but it will always be one of the greatest and most memorable seasons in South Carolina football history.