As the 2025 college football season approaches, opinions seem to be split on the South Carolina Gamecocks. There is national buzz around the return of star quarterback LaNorris Sellers with his name being thrown in the hat of Heisman names. However, the latest numbers from ESPN are a bit more cautious when it comes to the team as a whole and the tough schedule ahead.
According to ESPN's 2025 Football Power Index (FPI), South Carolina holds a 14.7 rating, which puts them at 16th in the country. The Gamecocks were given a 20.3% chance to make the College Football Playoff, with a 0.8% shot at winning it all. So, you're telling me there's a chance?
But perhaps the most notable number is the projected win total for the Gamecocks: 7.3. A seven-win season would keep South Carolina just outside the Playoff, especially with a brutal schedule against LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Clemson. Even going 3-3 in those matchups would land the Gamecocks at 9-3, which was still not enough for a playoff spot last season. So, maybe ESPN's predictions are spot on? But then again, no one thought the Gamecocks would even come close to earning a spot in the playoff race, and they nearly kicked the door down.
Shane Beamer's squad proved a lot of people wrong in 2024. They showed grit, growth, and had the kind of momentum that turned doubters into believers. There were close calls, and there were games that the officials seemed to have more impact than either team. But the 2024 season for South Carolina made one thing clear: the Gamecocks will not be ignored.
The SEC gauntlet is brutal, but the Gamecocks are battle-tested, they've heard the hype and the static, they've seen the projections, and they are not backing down. Heading into the 2025 season, LaNorris Sellers is back under center, key talent is returning on both sides of the ball, the wide receiver room is reloaded, and the defense is looking more aggressive and experienced. And this team has something that doesn't show up on any FPI chart: Belief.
So, do you believe they can win more games? Because they do.