The South Carolina Gamecocks are officially on College Football Playoff watch, and the hype surrounding the team is real! National experts are starting to circle Columbia with bold predictions heading into the 2025 season: South Carolina is a top contender for the CFP for the first time in program history.
That's right! According to CBS Sports, the Gamecocks are one of five powerhouses in the SEC projected with legit playoff potential for 2025. After a challenging, yet thrilling, 9-4 campaign last season that had South Carolina knocking on the door of the CFP, Shane Beamer's squad is reloaded and ready to go.
"Shane Beamer earned himself oodles of goodwill in a pivotal 2024 season, and his playoff case was perhaps the strongest of any coach that stood on the wrong side of last year's bubble," CBS Sports' Carter Bahns wrote. "The follow-up campaign will be a test of South Carolina's depth after it lost five standouts to the draft, but with LaNorris Sellers poised to take another step as a star quarterback and Dylan Stewart offering much-needed continuity on the defensive front, the Gamecocks feature CFP upside. The margin for error will be razor thin, though, in the SEC."
South Carolina fell short in the postseason last year, but with a supercharged offense and retooled defense, the narrative has changed. The Gamecocks have an undeniable presence and are being discussed among the teams to fear in the 2025 title hunt.
So, circle the calendar now! August 31st, 3 p.m., Atlanta, Georgia. The Gamecocks will open their season against Virginia Tech on ESPN. The stage is set, and the countdown to kickoff is on.
The road to the College Football Playoff is running through Columbia, South Carolina this season.