South Carolina's 2026 college football season kicks off in exactly one month. The Gamecocks open their season at home against Kent State on Sept. 5, with kickoff scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET.Â
Entering the 2026 season, calling the Gamecocks a dark horse for the CFP is putting it lightly. South Carolina has one of the toughest schedules in the country, and even plays six teams ranked inside the initial Coaches Poll. But ESPN's Heather Dinich, who covers the playoff, put the Gamecocks in her list of 31 teams that can make the CFP teams during the 2026 season.Â
The Gamecocks currently have a 10.8% chance of making the CFP per ESPN FPI. But Dinich points out two key metrics for a potential South Carolina playoff run—a win over rival Clemson at the end of the season, and if the Gamecocks can notch a few statement road wins.Â
South Carolina's road schedule is particularly daunting, as it features games against top-10 opponents in Alabama and Oklahoma, as well as versus Florida and Clemson. As Dinich points out, the Gamecocks need to have some statement road wins if they want to impress the committee.Â
"It's also not unreasonable to think that a three-loss South Carolina would be considered, but it can't afford to lose every big game on the road," Dinich writes. "The Gamecocks' best opportunities will be at Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma and Clemson, but ESPN's FPI gives South Carolina less than a 50% chance to win each of those. If the committee is going to reward South Carolina with a playoff bid, the Gamecocks will have to find a way to win some tough games on the road."
Another way South Carolina can vault itself into the playoff is by getting a signature win over the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 21. ESPN FPI gives the Gamecocks just a 20% chance to win it. The Dawgs have won four straight over USC from 2020-2023. But South Carolina gets homefield advantage for this one.  Â
With a new year under sixth-year head coach Shane Beamer loading, the Gamecocks are eager to put last year's 4-8 season behind them. South Carolina fans are hopeful that the Gamecocks can have a bounce back season, like the team did in 2024, going 9-3 in the regular season following a 5-7 season in 2023.Â
That year, the Gamecocks were even in the conversation to make the College Football Playoff. It helped that South Carolina defeated then-No. 12 Clemson Tigers in the last week of the regular season. South Carolina also had signature wins over No. 10 Texas A&M and No. 23 Missouri. But in the end, Clemson making it and winning the ACC Championship Game the next week gave the Tigers a bid. The committee also did not give bids to any three-loss teams, as the Gamecocks lost all three of its games to ranked opponents in LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama. Â
In the offseason, Coach Beamer did an excellent job both rebuilding his roster and coaching staff. Some of the biggest roster additions include offensive linemen Emmanual Poku and Jacarrius Peak, as well as running backs Christian Clark from Texas and Jabree Coleman from Penn State.Â
South Carolina's offense is also expected to improve under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, as the unit returns star quarterback LaNorris Sellers and receiver Nyck Harbor. But if South Carolina can put that all together and have a CFP surprise season remains to be seen.Â
Anything less than South Carolina making a bowl game will likely be the end of Shane Beamer's time in Columbia. Â
Ranking South Carolina's 7 toughest games of the 2026 season by win probability
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