The South Carolina Gamecocks got their season back on track in Week 6, with a 38-19 upset victory over the Florida Gators. Now that the Gamecocks are back to .500 at 3-3 on the season, South Carolina is now included in some bowl projections.
On3Sports' Brett McMurphy previously had the Gamecocks missing a bowl after losses to both Mississippi State and Alabama. But after the big win on the road against Florida, the Gamecocks are predicted to make a bowl game, per McMurphy.
After the win over Florida, South Carolina is now projected to play in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Fla. The Gamecocks' projected opponent will be the Virginia Tech Hokies.
College Football Bowl Projections📍
— On3 (@On3) October 12, 2026
(via @Brett_McMurphy)
Full list: https://t.co/6jV9EkxUhs pic.twitter.com/hJfAPHZllj
That would be quite the familiar opponent for Coach Beamer, whose father, the legendary Frank Beamer was the head coach there from 1987 until his retirement in 2015. Beamer himself played for his father from 1995-1999, playing as both a wide receiver and long snapper for the Hokies. After starting his coaching career at Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Mississippi State and South Carolina, he joined his father's staff from 2007-2010, coaching as the associate head coach and running backs coach in Blacksburg.
Beamer's South Carolina team also played Virginia Tech last season, in the Week 1 Aflac Kickoff series in Atlanta, Ga. The Gamecocks won 24-11, as quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for 209 yards and a touchdown. The two programs have played each other a total of 31 times, with the Gamecocks holding a 12-2-7 all-time lead in the series against the Hokies.
South Carolina men's basketball projected to finish dead last in SEC preseason poll
South Carolina has played a couple bowl games in the state of Florida before under Beamer. During the 2022 season, the Gamecocks played in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, as well as playing in the Citrus Bowl during the 2024 season.
South Carolina needs just three games to make it to a bowl game in 2026. The Gamecocks have a great chance to do that in matchups against Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Arkansas. South Carolina closes out the season against Georgia and in-state rival Clemson.
At the very least, South Carolina making a bowl game was considered to be the bare minimum for the Gamecocks to stick with Beamer. After beating Florida in upset fashion, his team is on-track to do just that.
South Carolina has a bye this week before taking on the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers at home next week.
LaNorris Sellers' accolades continue to stack up as he earns Davey O-Brien, Walter Camp Award honors
Add us as a preferred source on Google