Joel Klatt breaks down why South Carolina is his No. 11 ranked team entering next season

South Carolina shocked college football fans last season when it rattled off nine wins in the regular season. Evidently, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt doesn’t expect the Gamecocks to slow down in the 2025 campaign. Klatt has the Gamecocks ranked as the No. 11 team in his preseason rankings.

“[South Carolina head coach Shane] Beamer has done a really nice job at South Carolina,” Klatt said. “Here’s the other kicker. I love LaNorris Sellers. He’s back after a terrific redshirt freshman season. SEC Freshman of the Year, really good player.”

After redshirting during his true freshman season in 2023, Sellers didn’t disappoint during his first campaign as the Gamecocks starting QB. In 2024, Sellers completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions.

Sellers’ legs were just as dangerous as his arm. He amassed 674 yards and seven scores in the ground game. Fueled by Sellers’ excellent play, South Carolina was just a win away from making its first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.

“They almost made the playoffs a year ago,” Klatt said. “Dylan Stewart on the edge defensively, he’s one of the better players in the country. They’ve got to replace their running back, Raheim Sanders, as well as TJ Sanders, Kyle Kennard on the defensive line, some of these guys that were contributors for them.”

The Gamecocks have been at work this offseason replacing their losses. They’ve added 17 players via the NCAA Transfer Portal, including defensive standouts such as defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and EDGE Jaylen Brown.

Additionally, South Carolina boasts the No. 18 incoming freshman class, including 26 total players. Of course, it won’t be easy for the Gamecocks to live up to Klatt’s expectations. South Carolina will have to claw its way to success in conference play.

“I know that their schedule is going to be brutal, but it’s back loaded,” Klatt said. “Their last seven games is going to be at LSU, Oklahoma, ‘Bama, at Ole Miss, then they’ve got a bye, then they’re at A&M, Coastal Carolina — thank you, SEC schedule — then Clemson to finish.

“A tough finish for South Carolina, but again, you kind of trust their quarterback. You trust what Beamer is building, and I’ve got them at No. 11.”

Next season will be Beamer’s fifth at the helm of the Gamecocks. The 48-year-old head coach will look to take the program to new heights.