ChatGPT simulates the 2025 South Carolina football season as Gamecocks push for first College Football Playoff berth

The 2025 South Carolina football season is just over 100 days away, so the countdown is officially on until the Gamecocks open the year with Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

Expectations are sky high for South Carolina with the return of quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart after a nine-win campaign in 2024.

What are fair expectations for the Gamecocks this season? Today, we’re turning to our AI overlords to simulate the season.

The method: We plugged South Carolina’s official spring preview into ChatGPT to provide it with updated information. Then we added the Gamecocks’ 2025 schedule and some details on which freshmen could make an impact this year. And finally, we provided it with the rules on the 12-team playoff since the original simulation defaulted to the old four-team version.

We did have to change one player’s name since it for some reason defaulted back to a graduated player at kicker but otherwise this is an unedited version of what it spit back out at us.

Enjoy and then check back in for Part 2 to see if the season was enough to make the College Football Playoff.

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1. vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta, Neutral) – WIN 38-20

South Carolina set the tone early in Atlanta behind a pounding run game and sharp passing from LaNorris Sellers. Rahsul Faison broke off a 44-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, signaling his arrival as the new feature back. Malik Clark made an instant splash, hauling in a 41-yard touchdown on a bubble screen. The defense stifled the Hokies’ ground attack and forced two turnovers. Nyck Harbor added a late TD to seal a statement win.

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2. vs. South Carolina State (Home) – WIN 52-7

The Gamecocks overwhelmed their FCS neighbors, rotating in reserves after the first half. Faison ran wild for 144 yards and two scores, while Adaway and Howell combined for another 127 yards on the ground. Both Clark and Brian Rowe scored their first Williams-Brice TDs, showing off the freshman class’s big-play ability. The defense forced three turnovers and even scored a touchdown off a fumble return.

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3. vs. Vanderbilt (Home, SEC) – WIN 41-13

Vanderbilt hung tough for a quarter before South Carolina’s home crowd and offense took over. Sellers threw for three touchdowns — one each to Harbor, Rowe, and Dingle — while Faison racked up over 100 yards for the third straight week. The defense flexed in the red zone and kept Vandy out of the end zone in the second half. Clarke made a highlight-reel sideline catch to spark a third-quarter scoring run.

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4. at Missouri (Away, SEC) – WIN 27-24

In a hard-fought road battle, Faison proved his toughness with more than 130 yards and a key 23-yard score in the third quarter. Rowe’s third-down receptions twice kept drives alive, and a late 42-yard field goal gave the Gamecocks the edge. The defense stiffened in the red zone, and DQ Smith’s interception stopped Missouri’s attempt to re-take the lead in the final minute.

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5. vs. Kentucky (Home, SEC) – WIN 38-21

The Gamecocks took over early, as both Faison and Adaway III broke long runs against Kentucky’s aggressive front. Harbor delivered two receiving TDs, while Sellers added a third on a play-action keeper. The defense notched four sacks, with Dylan Stewart constantly pressuring the Wildcats’ quarterback. Brian Rowe made five chain-moving grabs to keep Kentucky off-balance.

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6. at LSU (Away, SEC) – LOSS 28-31

In one of the most physical SEC games of the year, South Carolina traded blows with LSU for four quarters. Sellers connected with Harbor and Clark for touchdowns, while Faison bruised his way to another 90+ yards. Adaway scored on a red zone pitch. Despite forcing a second-half turnover, the Gamecocks surrendered a long drive in the final minute, and LSU made the go-ahead field goal with less than 30 seconds to play.

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7. vs. Oklahoma (Home, SEC) – WIN 45-31

The offense exploded against an Oklahoma team new to the SEC. Sellers threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns (one each to Harbor, Clark, and Dingle). Faison and Adaway teamed to control the clock, combining for 188 yards and three TDs. A timely interception by JayR Johnson halted a Sooner comeback attempt, and the stadium roared as Clark streaked down the sideline for a 58-yard TD in the fourth.

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8. vs. Alabama (Home, SEC) – LOSS 24-27

A raucous home crowd witnessed a classic battle. Faison put the Gamecocks up early with a 21-yard run, while Clark made several crucial third-down catches. The defense forced two Alabama turnovers, but the Crimson Tide regained momentum with a long, grinding drive in the fourth. South Carolina’s last-chance drive ended on a turnover on downs at the Tide 32 with seconds to play.

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9. at Ole Miss (Away, SEC) – WIN 42-38

This SEC shootout saw Sellers pass for over 300 yards, including a career-long 76-yarder to Harbor. Faison rushed for more than 100 yards and scored twice, while Adaway added another on a fourth-quarter screen pass. Malik Clark’s double-move touchdown with less than two minutes left gave South Carolina the lead, and the defense held on for the win despite a furious Ole Miss rally.

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10. at Texas A&M (Away, SEC) – WIN 31-17

The Gamecocks dominated the second half. Faison and Adaway combined for 160+ rushing yards, wearing down the Aggies’ defense. Rowe’s quickness created several third-down conversions, and Stewart’s edge pressure resulted in a strip-sack that set up a Sellers rushing TD. The defense allowed just three points after halftime, icing the game.

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11. vs. Coastal Carolina (Home) – WIN 48-14

A chance to showcase depth, the Gamecocks rolled up over 500 yards of offense. Faison rested after scoring twice in the first half. Freshman RBs and WRs provided fireworks, with Clark scoring on a jet sweep while Rowe racked up 80 yards in the slot. Special teams blocked a punt for a touchdown. The defense forced two turnovers in the rout.

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12. vs. Clemson (Home, Rivalry) – WIN 35-24

With massive stakes for both programs, South Carolina took advantage of a fast start from Faison (128 yards, 1 TD) and a deep touchdown from Sellers to Harbor. Clark’s clutch third-down catch set up another score, and Rowe’s slot work confounded Clemson’s linebackers. Stewart notched two sacks. Clemson rallied in the third quarter, but a late drive by Sellers, capped by an Adaway short TD run, put the game away.

INDIVIDUAL FINAL SEASON STATS

Offense

• LaNorris Sellers (QB):
  • 3,380 passing yds, 30 TD, 7 INT, 65.8% completion
  • 610 rushing yds, 7 TD
• Rahsul Faison (RB):
  • 242 carries, 1,385 yds, 5.7 avg, 14 TD
  • 18 receptions, 165 yds, 1 TD
• Oscar Adaway III (RB):
  • 128 carries, 742 yds, 5.8 avg, 7 TD
  • 14 receptions, 132 yds, 1 TD
• Nyck Harbor (WR):
  • 68 rec, 1,075 yds, 15.8 avg, 10 TD
• Malik Clark (WR – Fr):
  • 52 rec, 814 yds, 15.7 avg, 7 TD
• Brian Rowe (WR – Fr):
  • 47 rec, 512 yds, 10.9 avg, 4 TD
• Jordan Dingle (TE):
  • 28 rec, 342 yds, 12.2 avg, 3 TD

Defense

• Dylan Stewart (EDGE):
  • 13.0 sacks, 48 tackles, 18 TFL, 3 forced fumbles
• Fred “JayR” Johnson (LB):
  • 92 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF
• DQ Smith (S):
  • 78 tackles, 3 INT, 2 FF
• Jalon Kilgore (DB):
  • 62 tackles, 3 INT, 8 PBU
• Judge Collier (DB):
  • 54 tackles, 2 INT, 7 PBU

Special Teams

• Mason Love (K):
  • 19-23 FG, long 48, 52-52 XPs
• William Joyce (P):
  • 41.8 avg, 28 inside 20

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