If you’re a Gamecocks fan, the university of sc football schedule 2024 probably felt like a three-month-long heart rate monitor test. Seriously. One week you’re riding high after crushing a ranked opponent, and the next you’re staring at the TV wondering how a win slipped through your fingers by two points. It was that kind of year.
Honestly, looking back at the 2024 slate, it was easily one of the most brutal paths in the country. We aren't just talking about playing a few good teams; we are talking about a gauntlet that featured matchups against Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. Most experts ranked this as a top-15 toughest schedule before the first kickoff even happened.
The Brutal Reality of the university of sc football schedule 2024
The season kicked off at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 31 against Old Dominion. It was supposed to be a "tune-up" game. Narrator: It was not. South Carolina narrowly escaped with a 23-19 win. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win.
Then came the first real statement. On September 7, the Gamecocks traveled to Lexington and absolutely dismantled Kentucky 31-6. This was the moment people started thinking, "Wait, is this team actually for real?" The defense looked like a brick wall.
But then, the heartbreak started.
The LSU game on September 14 is still a sore subject in Columbia. College GameDay was in town. The atmosphere was electric. South Carolina led for a huge chunk of that game, only to lose 36-33 in the final moments. It was a gut punch. You’ve probably seen the replays of the controversial calls—or maybe you’ve blocked them out of your memory entirely.
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Mid-Season Chaos and the Turnaround
After a massive 50-7 win over Akron, the schedule turned into a nightmare. Back-to-back losses against Ole Miss (27-3) and a nail-biter against Alabama (27-25) left the Gamecocks sitting at 3-3.
Most teams would have folded.
Instead, Shane Beamer’s squad went on a tear. They didn't just win; they dominated. They went to Norman and embarrassed Oklahoma 35-9. Then they came home and bullied No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20. By the time November rolled around, the university of sc football schedule 2024 looked like a success story instead of a "what if" season.
They finished the regular season with a string of wins that included a 28-7 victory at Vanderbilt, a 34-30 thriller against Missouri, and a 56-12 blowout of Wofford.
The Palmetto Bowl and the Postseason
Nothing matters more than the Saturday after Thanksgiving. On November 30, the Gamecocks went into Death Valley and beat Clemson 17-14. It was gritty. It was ugly. It was perfect. Taking down the Tigers on their own turf is the best way to cap off any regular season.
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The year ended at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on December 31. Facing Illinois, the Gamecocks fought hard but fell 21-17. It wasn't the ending fans wanted, but finishing 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the SEC is a massive step forward for the program.
2024 Game-by-Game Results
While everyone remembers the big wins, here is how the full season actually shook out:
The season started with the win over Old Dominion (23-19) followed by that huge Kentucky blowout (31-6). The mid-season stretch was the toughest, with the LSU loss (33-36), the Akron win (50-7), the Ole Miss loss (3-27), and the Alabama heartbreaker (25-27).
After that, it was pure momentum: Oklahoma (35-9), Texas A&M (44-20), Vanderbilt (28-7), Missouri (34-30), Wofford (56-12), and the glorious Clemson win (17-14). The Citrus Bowl loss to Illinois (17-21) put the final record at 9-4.
Why This Schedule Matters for 2025 and Beyond
What did we learn from the university of sc football schedule 2024? Basically, that the Gamecocks have the talent to play with anyone. They were about five plays away from being an 11-win team and potentially crashing the College Football Playoff.
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The defense, led by guys who were constantly in the backfield, proved that South Carolina is no longer a "get right" game for the big powers in the SEC. LaNorris Sellers showed he’s the real deal at quarterback, and the resilience the team showed after the Alabama loss is something that recruits are definitely noticing.
If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve for the next season, here is what you should do:
Keep an eye on the transfer portal. With the success of the 2024 season, Columbia is becoming a destination again. You should also start looking at the 2025 schedule releases, as the SEC is only getting more crowded and more difficult with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma becoming fully settled.
Check the official Gamecocks Athletics site for spring game dates. Seeing the growth of the younger players who got "garbage time" reps in the Wofford and Akron games will tell you a lot about the depth for next year. This 2024 season was a wild ride, but it feels like it was just the prologue for something bigger.