South Carolina Football: Ranking each game on the Entertainment Scale

South Carolina Football’s No.1 Most Entertaining Game of 2023:
North Carolina Tarheels

On paper, this really should be the most entertaining, watchable game of the Gamecocks’ schedule this year. Drake Maye returns to Chapel Hill to maybe vie for the Heisman Trophy, according to some analysts. He’s got talent around him as well, even though leading receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green are gone. Maye himself was the team’s leading rusher last season, so the Gamecocks’ linebackers could play a pivotal role in how this game goes. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo was hired away to Wisconsin, so Maye could have a bit of trouble adjusting to a new playbook. However, Maye’s talent is enough to where there shouldn’t be too much of a discernable drop-off in numbers.

One storyline to watch going into the game is the eligibility of transfer WR Tez Walker, who was declared ineligible due to NCAA waiver rules but has since appealed the ruling. If declared eligible, Walker could be a big boost for the Tarheels’ passing game against the ‘Cocks.

The Tarheel defense was unspectacular last year, placing in the bottom 30 of all teams with 30.8 PPG allowed. Interception leader Storm Duck transferred out, leaving a hole in an already shaky secondary. 2 of 3 of the team leaders in passes defended, including Duck, are gone, but leading tackler (with 145!) Cedric Gray does return to anchor the defense. Ultimately, Spencer Rattler and the Gamecock receiving corps should have a field day against this defense.

However, it’s easy to forget the South Carolina football team is also losing their top two cover corners, and this game is likely to turn into a shootout. My money isn’t on either team as a non-betting objective observer, but if I was to bet on the game, the over seems like a sure-fire hit. On a neutral site, with College Gameday on hand, this game will be the most entertaining game on the schedule this year, not including a potential bowl game.