Urban Meyer calls South Carolina 'the most underrated place in college football to play'

Every year rankings of the toughest places in college football start coming out during the offseason, creating some intense debate. But what does a former coach like Urban Meyer have to say about the topic?

Well, it might just surprise you. Meyer pegged the most underrated place in college football recently on an episode of The Triple Option podcast.

He was speaking about South Carolina and the Gamecocks’ prospects for the 2025 season. In his discussion with co-host Mark Ingram, he casually dropped the bomb.

“I like their coach,” Urban Meyer began. “Hey Mark, I’m going to say this too. I like their coach, and I think it’s the most underrated place in college football to play. That stadium? Wow. Williams-Brice.”

Ingram has had experience playing there, as well. He walked into Williams-Brice in 2010. He walked out a loser.

“It’s tough to play there,” Ingram told Urban Meyer. “That’s when you said Alabama at South Carolina — I was No. 1 in the country, went to South Carolina. We got ambushed. So that’s not an easy place to go play.”

The two parties then chatted about South Carolina a bit, wondering whether the Gamecocks might eclipse the 7.5 over/under win total Vegas has set on the season. Both Meyer and Ingram like South Carolina to reach at least eight wins.

Can the program do more? That’s been the perennial question at South Carolina.

The program has had some real pockets of success, highlighted by Steve Spurrier‘s success in the early 2010s. Since then, though, it’s been a whole lot more down than up. Both Urban Meyer and Mark Ingram can see that changing this year.

“And with LaNorris Sellers with Dylan Stewart on the opposite side? I like this team to win over 7.5 games,” Ingram said. “With that quarterback, man, I think they’ve got a shot. I’m a real big fan of LaNorris Sellers, man. He’s one of the first three freshmen in history to throw for 2,500 and run for 500 as a true freshman.

“Big quarterback. Built like Cam Newton, Tim Tebow. Big dude, can run, can throw the ball. Great head on his shoulders, man. We talked to the young brother, he’s bright and kind of really humble and grounded. I’m a fan of LaNorris Sellers and I’m rooting for him except when he plays Alabama.”

Meyer went back to the Spurrier years to show that success at a high level is possible at South Carolina. Particularly when Williams-Brice is at its best.

“And prior to him Lou Holtz had a couple eight- and nine-win seasons. But that is one,” Urban Meyer said. “That, to me, you stick South Carolina in another conference, they’re winning double-digit wins more often. They’re just stuck in a tough-ass conference, man.

“I’m telling you, I think that’s one of the great places to go. Not as an opposing coach. I used to hate going there. But great fans, great stadium.”