The debate continues to rage on about the future of the College Football Playoff. Just last week, the SEC and ESPN reportedly pushed back against a proposed 24-team playoff. The expansion to add 12 more teams to the existing field was recently supported by the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC conference commissioners.Â
The Big Ten's Tony Petitti then doubled down on 24 teams this week, while adding that he strongly opposed the SEC's favored expansion to 16 teams.Â
While the talks of the playoff expanding will likely continue over the next year, it's fun to think about hypotheticals with the new system. How about past South Carolina Gamecock teams? Let's take a look back at previous teams in Columbia that would have made the 24-team field.
South Carolina teams that would make a 24-team CFP
2024 South Carolina Gamecocks: (9-4, 5-3 in SEC)Â
Highest CFP ranking: No. 14
South Carolina's season in 2024 was a special one. In head coach Shane Beamer's fourth season in Columbia, the Gamecocks had a strong year. Under a stellar performance from redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, as well as running back Raheim Sanders, the Gamecocks finished 9-4 on the season, ending with a Citrus Bowl berth. South Carolina fell 21-17 to Illinois in the matchup.Â
But if the 24-team playoff was in place, the Gamecocks would have made the field with a few strong signature victories. The season looked like it would be a rocky one, as the Gamecocks opened the season 3-3. South Carolina had no problems defeating Old Dominion, Kentucky and Akron. The Gamecocks lost against ranked opponents in No. 16 LSU, No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 7 Alabama. But the losses to the Tigers and Tide were by a combined five total points.Â
South Carolina rebounded well to close out the season, starting with a road victory over Oklahoma on Oct. 18, followed with a huge 44-20 upset over then-No. 10 Texas A&M following a bye. South Carolina then bet Vanderbilt on the road, then defeated then-No. 23 Missouri at home. Following a home win over FCS Wofford, the Gamecocks would have sealed their CFP fate with the 17-14 road upset of rival Clemson, which was ranked No. 12 at the time. South Carolina ended the regular season ranked 15th nationally.  Â
2017 South Carolina Gamecocks: (9-4, 5-3 in SEC)
Highest CFP ranking: No. 24
This 2017 South Carolina team would have been an interesting case study for the selection committee. The Gamecocks, under second-year head coach Will Muschamp, were anchored by a lights-out defense led by D.J. Wonnum, Dante Sawyer, Skai Moore and T. J. Brunson.Â
But South Carolina's strength of schedule wasn't great. The Gamecocks played just one ranked opponent on the season, No. 1 Georgia, which South Carolina lost 24-10. The rest of South Carolina's signature wins came against unranked opponents, including at Missouri, at Texas A&M, at Tennessee and at home against Florida and Clemson. South Carolina had just three losses on the season to Kentucky, Georgia and Clemson.Â
Although South Carolina finished Selection Sunday outside of the final top 25, the Gamecocks likely would have gotten the nod over 8-4 Mississippi State and N.C. State, as well as 10-3 Boise State.
Why South Carolina fans should oppose a 24-team playoff
Pre-CFP Era Teams that would have earned bids
The CFP era only began in 2014, but there are a handful of Gamecock teams that could have made the playoff if the 24-team was around back then.
Steve Spurrier's 10-win teams in 2011, 2012 and 2013Â
How cool would it be to see the Head Ball Coach in a playoff game? All three of his teams in 2011, 2012 and 2013 finished the regular season with 10 wins, which would have been more than enough to earn bids. Even the Gamecock team that fell 56-17 to Auburn in the SEC title game in 2010 could have finished inside the final top-24. Â
2001 South Carolina Gamecocks: 9-3
Lou Holtz' 2001 Gamecock team finished 9-3, capped off with an Outback Bowl win over Ohio State. But if the 24-team playoff was around in 2001, the Gamecocks would have earned bids. South Carolina ended the regular season ranked 14th in the county, with wins over ranked opponents in #25 Georgia, #17 Mississippi State. The Gamecocks' three losses came on the road to Arkansas, and against Top-10 teams in Tennessee and Florida.Â
1984 South Carolina Gamecocks: 10-2
Former South Carolina head coach Joe Morrison led the Gamecocks to the first-ever 10-win season in 1984. The Gamecocks finished the regular season ranked No. 7 overall, having won 10 games with just one loss to Navy on the road.Â
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