Where South Carolina sits in Athlon's preseason SEC standings

Expectations are high around South Carolina football this offseason. For the first time, the national consensus seems to be that the Gamecocks will compete for a berth in the College Football Playoff, a notion also supported by the team’s near-miss in 2024 and returning talent.

On Monday, Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan published his take on South Carolina’s place in the hierarchy of the SEC. According to Lassan, the Gamecocks will finish sixth in the conference in 2025.

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Here’s what Lassan had to say about Shane Beamer’s team:

“The Gamecocks were one of the hottest teams in college football at the end of the regular season with six straight victories to finish 9-3. Coach Shane Beamer’s team just missed the College Football Playoff after that late-season surge but is poised for another postseason run this fall.

“Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is a big reason why South Carolina can make the Playoff in ‘25. After a slow start and early injuries, Sellers emerged as one of college football’s top quarterbacks down the stretch with an average of 342.8 total yards a game in November. New coordinator Mike Shula is tasked with taking Sellers’ play to the next level and additional help could come in the form of an improving group of receivers: Nyck Harbor is a breakout candidate, with Jared Brown and Mazeo Bennett providing support on the outside. Three new interior starters must be identified up front. The Gamecocks could lean on a backfield-by-committee approach to replace running back Rocket Sanders.

“South Carolina’s defense ranked among the best in the SEC in ‘24 by holding opponents to 18.1 points a contest. Coordinator Clayton White has work to do in order to keep this unit performing at a high level. The Gamecocks return rising star end Dylan Stewart after a standout freshman year. However, fellow end Kyle Kennard and the bulk of the team’s top contributors at defensive tackle and linebacker have departed. Standout safety Nick Emmanwori will be missed on the back end.”

His overall SEC standings prediction is below:

1. Texas Longhorns
2. Georgia Bulldogs
3. LSU Tigers
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Florida Gators
6. South Carolina Gamecocks
7. Ole Miss Rebels
8. Texas A&M Aggies
9. Oklahoma Sooners
10. Tennessee Volunteers
11. Auburn Tigers
12. Missouri Tigers
13. Arkansas Razorbacks
14. Vanderbilt Commodores
15. Kentucky Wildcats
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Lassan, like many, is high on the possibility of the Gamecocks improving on offense. South Carolina returns Heisman Trophy candidate LaNorris Sellers at quarterback and a group of intriguing receivers. If the USC offensive line plays up to its capabilities, and Mike Shula’s offense can run the ball with any consistency, they will put plenty of points up on the Williams-Brice Stadium scoreboard this fall.

Defensively, South Carolina must replace a lot, though, something that gives Lassan some pause. However, the Gamecocks still have a lot of talent on that side of the ball. If Dylan Stewart and Jalon Kilgore play like the stars they are–and a few other names step up–the USC D will be good enough to win games.

Last season, South Carolina was one of six teams to tie for fourth place in the Southeastern Conference. To be in that mix again this season would put the Gamecocks firmly in the College Football Playoff discussion again. Following 2024’s finish, a Playoff berth would be the next step forward.

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