South Carolina’s bowl picture is getting a lot brighter after the Gamecocks stacked wins over ranked Florida and Tennessee.
At 4-3 with five games left before Saturday’s trip to Oklahoma, South Carolina is back in the mix for postseason play, and several national outlets already have the Gamecocks slotted into a range of bowl destinations.
ESPN’s pair of projections splits in different directions. Kyle Bonagura has South Carolina heading to Montgomery, Alabama, for the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl against Miami (Ohio) on Dec.
- Mark Schlabach sees the Gamecocks in Tampa for the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl against Virginia on Dec.
CBS Sports has South Carolina going to Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30, where Virginia Tech would be the opponent. That matchup would bring a familiar storyline for Shane Beamer, who attended Virginia Tech and has deep family ties to the program through his father, Frank Beamer. The two teams already met last season in Atlanta to open the year, and South Carolina won 24-11.
“Shane Beamer against Virginia Tech in Jacksonville? The Gator Bowl would have its storyline ready on Selection Sunday before the coach pressers begin,” CBS Brad Crawford wrote. “South Carolina’s coach grew up watching his father, Frank, turn the Hokies into a national power, and facing that same program for the second time as leader of the Gamecocks would be inviting.”
The Athletic and Sports Illustrated both point South Carolina toward Nashville for the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.
The Gamecocks have never played in that bowl. The Athletic has them matched with Minnesota, which is coming off an upset win over Iowa, while Sports Illustrated lists Michigan as the opponent.
A game against the Wolverines would be a rematch of the 2018 Outback Bowl and that famous Jadeveon Clowney hit.
On3 has South Carolina landing in Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31 against Southern Cal. That game could come with an uncertain coaching situation for the Trojans, as Lincoln Riley’s seat continues to be warm.
Athlon Sports projects the Gamecocks to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 against West Virginia. South Carolina last played in Memphis for a bowl game 20 years ago, when it beat Houston 44-36 in 2006.
In Other News...
South Carolina Now Faces A Costly Williams-Brice Decision
The celebration after South Carolinas upset win over No. 11 Tennessee came with a hefty price tag at Williams-Brice Stadium. Roughly 30,000 fans rushed the field, and the surge left the Ligustrum hedges behind the north end zone badly damaged, turning a memorable night into a maintenance problem for the athletic department.
Head groundskeeper Tim Flanagan said the damage was extensive, and replacing the hedges could cost a substantial amount, with repair decisions still pending. It was the third field storm of Shane Beamers tenure, following similar scenes in 2022 and 2024, another reminder that the Gamecocks biggest emotional wins can leave a lasting mark beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas Next SEC Test Just Got A Lot More Real
South Carolinas next SEC home test now has a firmer feel to it, with Texas A&M set to visit on Nov. 7 for a 3 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. The matchup lands just after the Gamecocks Oct. 31 date with Oklahoma, giving Shane Beamers team a chance to reset before another league game that figures to carry plenty of weight in the late-season race.
Texas A&M will arrive with a week off in hand, while South Carolina will be coming through a stretch that already includes recent results and the Oklahoma game on deck. In a conference schedule where every slot seems to matter a little more as November approaches, the TV window and kickoff time only sharpen the attention on what comes next at home. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas Newest Commit Could Answer A Big Frontcourt Need
South Carolina added another piece to its recruiting class with the commitment of Johnson, a promising interior prospect who could eventually help address a need in the frontcourt. She joins point guards Jezelle Banks and Taylor Brown as the third player in the class, giving the Gamecocks another young building block as they look ahead to future roster construction.
Johnson brings a productive high school rsum from Biloxi High School, where she averaged 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game as a junior. She has already cleared 1,000 career points and rebounds, and while she may need time to adjust to the college game, her size and physical tools give South Carolina something to work with in the paint. [Read more 🡒]