As part of ESPN's Playoff Predictor model, South Carolina is among the 32 teams with at least a 10% chance of making it to the College Football Playoff this season. The Gamecocks sit with a 20.3% chance to make the CFP, and just a 1% shot to win the national title, according to the model.
But not everyone is buying the low odds for the Gamecocks, especially when you consider what the committee might actually value when it's time to select the 12-team field come December. And let's not forget what happened last year when South Carolina finished 9-4 and just missed the CFP cut, landing at No. 15.
Now, with LaNorris Sellers entering his redshirt sophomore season with more poise and discipline in the pocket, combined with a dominant defensive front, there is reason to believe that this is one of the most complete and prepared rosters Shane Beamer has had.
The Gamecocks are set to face the 13th-toughest schedule, according to CBS, including a brutal October 11 trip to Baton Rouge to face LSU. While the season opener in Atlanta will set the tone for the 2025 campaign, it could be this conference game that serves as a Playoff-defining moment for the Gamecocks. If South Carolina enters Baton Rouge undefeated and survives Death Valley, the Gamecocks will position themselves at the top of rankings and a run at the national title game.
A perfect record against the ACC would also be a major boost for South Carolina's 2025 campaign. The Gamecocks have bookend ACC opponents this season with matchups against Virginia Tech and Clemson, and winning those games would strengthen the résumé considerably. Especially considering last season, many felt the Gamecocks didn't get nearly enough credit for defeating Clemson, the eventual ACC Champion, and it cost them in the rankings.
On the other hand, if the Gamecocks go 0-3 against LSU, Alabama, and Ole Miss, it could be devastating for their season. Last year, South Carolina walked away from games against LSU and Alabama with heartbreak, losing by just five combined points. It wasn't enough to break into the top 12, and due to the committee leaning heavily on the head-to-head matchups, it left the Gamecocks on the outside looking in.
Needless to say, South Carolina needs to win this season. If the Gamecocks want to make the leap from contender to qualifier for the playoff, it start with flipping the script in some big games. The talent is there. The QB1 is ready. The schedule may be tough, but it always is, and it's navigable. South Carolina has what it takes to run the SEC gauntlet, and they just may be the team that proves the computers and doubters wrong, earning their place in the final 12.
