Could Gamecocks win first title this year?

[18IsTheMan]

We check in at #11 in ESPN's ranking of teams who could be the next Indiana and win their first college football title. The list also includes Vandy, Arkansas, Kentucky and James Madison, so it's a bit suspect, to say the least.

Did not realize before IU winning last year, the last first-time title winner was all the way back in 1996 with Florida. It's a tough club to get into.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

I think it would require some "Black Magic" on the defensive side of the ball to pull it off.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I think it would require some "Black Magic" on the defensive side of the ball to pull it off.

I dunno. An adequate defense with a Briles offense led by a potential #1 overall pick.........

We have officially reached the part of the pre-season where I begin irrationally expecting grand results.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

I dunno. An adequate defense with a Briles offense led by a potential #1 overall pick.........

We have officially reached the part of the pre-season where I begin irrationally expecting grand results.

Got that ''Gamecock Glow'' until it wears off. I just don't know if we can outscore some of the teams on our schedule.

 

[will110]

I would not be shocked to see South Carolina make the CFP. We were a couple plays away from making it in 2024, so a similar season could put us in this year, especially with the nine-game SEC schedule.

I would be flabbergasted if we can make a run through the CFP to win it all.

 

[1vagamecock]

We check in at #11 in ESPN's ranking of teams who could be the next Indiana and win their first college football title. The list also includes Vandy, Arkansas, Kentucky and James Madison, so it's a bit suspect, to say the least.

Did not realize before IU winning last year, the last first-time title winner was all the way back in 1996 with Florida. It's a tough club to get into.

You forgot the time ESPN let the NCAA football game (Xbox I think) run itself and we won the national championship.....

 

[Piscis]

Writers write all sort of garbage this time of year. They want every fan base excited so they will click on every story posted. Every team you referenced in the OP, including SC, are perennial also rans. ESPN loves lists of weak teams that could win it all. The fan bases of mediocre teams need quite a bit of prodding to click on articles.

Arkansas at least used to be consistently relevant in the NC picture and did win the SWC championship a number of times back in the day. They even claim a NC in 1964.

 

[ThinnyJ]

If we make the playoffs, I will wake up to reality

 

[kidrobinski]

Writers write all sort of garbage this time of year. They want every fan base excited so they will click on every story posted. Every team you referenced in the OP, including SC, are perennial also rans. ESPN loves lists of weak teams that could win it all. The fan bases of mediocre teams need quite a bit of prodding to click on articles.

Arkansas at least used to be consistently relevant in the NC picture and did win the SWC championship a number of times back in the day. They even claim a NC in 1964.

I was a young lad living in Jacksonville Arkansas and playing my first year of football in that 1964 year. I don’t remember which game it was, pretty sure it was Texas, everyone in town brought their lawn chairs downtown and sat in the middle of the main street while all the stores put TVs in the windows showing the game. Pretty cool.

 

[I4CtheFuture]

Mathematically ? - Yes.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

We have officially reached the part of the pre-season where I begin irrationally expecting grand results.

 

[Thunderstick]

How will we feel if it takes a late score in the 4th quarter to edge Kent State? I refuse to get my hopes up...we've all been burned many times before (last year?).

 

[treyno2722]

How do we make the CFP with 6.5 wins?

 

[Piscis]

How do we make the CFP with 6.5 wins?

We are counting on an unexpected CFP expansion to 36 teams.

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

That would be nice.








that would

 

[I4CtheFuture]

We goin' 11-1

Only loss to A&M - Then beat Clempson the following week to finish 11-1 and in the playoffs.

We'll lose first round there.

 

[cocksx5]

noooooo!!!!!!!!! neither talent nor coaching there

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

How do we make the CFP with 6.5 wins?

Need that other .5 win

 

[Skuddy]

We goin' 11-1

Only loss to A&M - Then beat Clempson the following week to finish 11-1 and in the playoffs.

We'll lose first round there.

Nope, A&M will also be 11-1 but since they beat us, they will get to go.

Clemson will have 3 losses but they will get to go since they are ACC champs.

Other SEC or playoff rules will also eliminate us from going.

We will get to go to the biggest non-playoff bowl.

 

[Cock_mantis]

Absolutely - no questions asked. We have the talent and if we can coach that talent so that it reaches or comes close to its ceiling we can do anything.

Coach White has been doing this for years, and I’m hopeful Briles can do the same.

I’ll treat the entire message board to “Gamecock National Champs 2026” tattoos when we do it.