South Carolina has played six ranked opponents this season and after starting the season 0-3 against ranked opponents, they are now 3-3. South Carolina has played ranked opponents three weeks in a row now and with three straight wins, they have done something no other South Carolina team has done.
Writing history ✍️ pic.twitter.com/EZKFpjDieF
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 17, 2024
The Gamecocks have never won three consecutive games against ranked opponents in program history until tonight's nail-biting 34-30 win over No. 24 Missouri. Their wins came over No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 24 Vanderbilt, and No. 24 Missouri, with the Gamecocks finding themselves also in the rankings in their matchup this week against the Tigers.
The game against Missouri was in a way historic in more ways than one as head coach Shane Beamer was able to beat the Tigers for the first time as the Gamecocks head coach. The win over the Tigers also broke a five-game losing streak against Missouri, one that South Carolina had been haunt by poor play and turnovers.
All of these things would not have happened had the Gamecocks lost a game that essentially seemed wrapped up at halftime. South Carolina allowed Missouri to score 16 unanswered points in the second half to actually take the lead in the fourth quarter which meant South Carolina's offense really had to go to work in order to win the game.
In the end, though, the Gamecocks were able to get it done in their home stadium and bring a little bit of history into it. Unfortunately, South Carolina will not be able to make it four consecutive wins over ranked opponents next week as they are scheduled to play their second and last non-conference game against Wofford at home on Senior Day.
South Carolina will be able to get a win over yet another ranked opponent this season in their final game when they are set to take on in-state rival Clemson just a short bus ride away. A win over Clemson will give South Carolina a 4-3 record over ranked opponents this season and a shot at making the College Football Playoff if enough chaos has ensued, especially in the SEC.