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This South Carolina football stat should demand more SEC respect for the Gamecocks

South Carolina should be getting the respect it deserves based on this stat.
ByEricka Brockish|
Nov 23, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer directs his team against the Wofford Terriers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer directs his team against the Wofford Terriers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

South Carolina may not have made it to the College Football Playoff last season, but they did earn a little bit of respect for the push they made at the end. However, a loss to Illinois in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl defeintely didn't do the Gamecocks any favors and now they are being forgotten about again.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is getting a lot of hype in the SEC, but the Gamecocks just aren't getting the respect they deserve. There is one stat, however, that should give them more credit going into the season. When looking at SEC teams, South Carolina has more 11-win seasons than 11 other teams in the conference, including:

  • Florida
  • Texas
  • LSU
  • Auburn
  • Ole Miss
  • Texas A&M
  • Tennessee
  • Kentucky
  • Arkansas
  • Vanderbilt
  • Mississippi State

Granted, Texas has only been in the SEC for one season, but they were in an easier conference in the Big 12 before, and still weren't able to beat South Carolina out in this stat. Since 2011, South Carolina has had three 11-win seasons, all coming in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

This is the season where South Carolina can get back to those big winning ways. With Sellers at quarterback and a solid offense and defense, head coach Shane Beamer is looking at one of his best teams yet going into the season.

The Gamecocks are just going to be given respect; they will have to earn it, and in order to do that, they have to win the big games. Last season, the loss to LSU really ended up coming back and hurting South Carolina in the end, so winning each as many games as possible in the SEC and having strong no-conference wins will be big for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina will open the 2025 season on August 31 against Virginia Tech, a team Beamer is very familiar with. Beamer both played and coached at Virginia Tech, and his father, Frank Beamer, was a long-time coach for the Hokies, so this game will certainly be emotionally charged.

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