The South Carolina Gamecocks will enter the 2025 college football season ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25 Preseason poll, marking another sign of national respect for head coach Shane Beamer and the program. But that respect comes with a bit of reality, the path to a potential College Football Playoff spot runs through one of the toughest gauntlet of games in the country. According to Brett McMurphy of Rivals, South Carolina is tied with Oklahoma for the most consecutive games against preseason AP Top 25 opponents, all of which are conference games.
Most consecutive games vs. @AP_Top25 preseason opponents
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 11, 2025
Oklahoma
No. 1 Texas (Dallas), Oct. 11
No. 13 at South Carolina, Oct. 18
No. 21 Ole Miss, Oct. 25
No. 24 at Tennessee, Nov. 1
No. 8 at Alabama, Nov. 15
South Carolina
No. 9 at LSU, Oct. 11
No. 18 OU, Oct. 18
No. 8…
From October 11 through November 15, the Gamecocks will face five straight ranked teams:
- No. 9 LSU (away) – Oct. 11
- No. 18 Oklahoma – Oct. 18
- No. 8 Alabama – Oct. 25
- No. 21 Ole Miss (away) – Nov. 1
- No. 19 Texas A&M (away) – Nov. 15
Five weeks,. Five ranked opponents. Five conference games. Three of them on the road. And that run doesn't even include the regular-season finale against No. 4 Clemson, a matchup that could carry massive playoff implications as well.
The AP Top 25 Context
Texas opens the season as the AP No. 1, but six teams received first-place votes, showing how wide open this season can be. The SEC is once again heavily represented, with Texas, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Tennessee all making the list alongside South Carolina.
The Gamecocks' placement at No. 13 shows confidence in LaNorris Sellers and a roster that boasts talent on both sides of the ball, but the losses of multiple NFL Draft picks mean they will have to prove that depth and resilience early in the season.
Why This Stretch Could Define the Season
The playoff committee doesn't just look at who you beat, they also look at when you beat them. Running this SEC gauntlet in the middle of the season means momentum will be critical for the Gamecocks. Racking up wins in October could catapult South Carolina into serious playoff contention, while any stumbles early on could shift the focus to a New Year's Six bowl.
And again, this brutal five-game stretch doesn't include the regular-season finale against Clemson. So, if the Gamecocks survive the SEC meat grinder and still have hopes for the playoffs heading into rivalry week, the matchup against the Tigers could be the most important Palmetto Bowl in program history.
Shane Beamer's squad doesn't need the AP poll to validate them, but if the right opponents are peaking at the right time, the Gamecocks could turn a solid season into a playoff resume.