2023 South Carolina Gamecocks Season Review
In his first two seasons on the job, head coach Shane Beamer exceeded expectations by leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to bowl berths. But in 2023, South Carolina took a big step back. The Gamecocks failed to beat the hated arch-rival Clemson Tigers in the regular season finale at home, falling one game short of post-season eligibility. Now Beamer must hit the recruiting trail and transfer portal to try and get his program back up to speed. Much will be expected and demanded of a coach who is entering his fourth season on the job and seems to be falling behind the rest of the SEC.
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2023 South Carolina Gamecocks Season Review
Last game, the South Carolina Gamecocks lost 16-7 against the Clemson Tigers as 7.5-point home dogs. The game went under the total of 50. South Carolina has a record of 5-7 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the total. South Carolina ranks 83rd for total offense, 24th for passing, 129th for rushing and 77th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 91st overall, 106th against the pass, 63rd against the rush, and 68th for points allowed. Also, South Carolina ranks 36th for fewest turnovers lost and 81st for takeaways.
Clemson finished off a four-game November sweep with a satisfying 16-7 win over rival South Carolina on Saturday night, rallying after a 4-4 start that spoiled the preseason ACC favorites' plans to add another title this season.
On Saturday night, it was freshman defensive back Khalil Barnes who scored the team's only touchdown, kicker Jonathan Weitz who made the three longest field goals of his career, and a defense that held Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler to a season-low 112 yards passing.
Barnes jumped on a backward pass thrown by Rattler that bounced off Xavier Legette's hands. The freshman scooped it up and went 42 yards for the touchdown 35 seconds into the game.
Weitz, called back to Clemson by Swinney in September, had his best game since the return, hitting from 50, 49, and 42 yards - all longer than his career-best of 41 coming in.
When the game ended, the team rushed to a corner of the stadium to celebrate in front of the school band, family, and supporters.
Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. planted the team flag in the Gamecocks logo at midfield as players took pictures.
Following South Carolina's only TD, a 1-yard run by Luke Doty in the first quarter, it punted its next eight drives.
The Gamecocks saw their last chance ended when Rattler's pass to Doty on fourth down came up short with 3:19 to play. Rattler finished 16-of-32 passing.
Weitz has had his up-and-down moments this year, including missing a 30-yarder late in a tie game with No. 5 Florida State that the Tigers eventually lost in overtime.
But he came up huge in this one, connecting on the 50-yard kick to put Clemson up for good, 10-7, before adding the others.
2023 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedule
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
RECORD |
| Sep 2 |
vs. North Carolina |
L 17-31 |
0-1 |
| Sep 9 |
vs. Furman |
W 47-21 |
1-1 |
| Sep 16 |
at Georgia |
L 14-24 |
1-2 |
| Sep 23 |
vs. Mississippi State |
W 37-30 |
2-2 |
| Sep 30 |
at Tennessee |
L 20-41 |
2-3 |
| Oct 14 |
vs. Florida |
L 6-38 |
2-4 |
| Oct 21 |
at Missouri |
L 12-34 |
2-5 |
| Oct 28 |
at Texas A&M |
L 17-30 |
2-6 |
| Nov 4 |
vs. Jacksonville State |
W 38-28 |
3-6 |
| Nov 11 |
vs. Vanderbilt |
W 47-6 |
4-6 |
| Nov 18 |
vs. Kentucky |
L 14-17 |
4-7 |
| Nov 25 |
vs. Clemson |
L 7-16 |
4-8 |
South Carolina began playing football in 1892 and has one conference title in its history. In 1969 the Gamecocks won the ACC championship.
The Gamecocks have had moments of glory, especially under former head coach Steve Spurrier. The Old Ball Coach led USC to three consecutive 11-win seasons and a berth in the SEC championship game. But the Gamecocks have never come close to winning the SEC, let alone a national championship.
Spurrier’s 11-win season run ran from 2011 to 2013, and they finished in the top nine of the national rankings. However, the Gamecocks reverted to mediocrity in 2014 and have yet to escape their misery. USC has not finished in the national rankings in eight seasons. South Carolina has had just four winning seasons in the past eight years.
George Rogers was the only Heisman Trophy winner in USC history in 1980. Other great USC players include Steve Wadiak, Alex Hawkins, Billy Gambrell, Marcus Lattimore, Jadeveon Clowney, and Sterling Sharpe.
2023 College Football Schedule
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