College Football

CFB Top 50, #12: 2025 South Carolina Gamecocks

by
Bracket Yard
August 11, 2025

The 2025 South Carolina Gamecocks sit at number 12 on the CFB Top 50 countdown, meaning just 12 days until the 2025 season begins.

South Carolina looks like a team ready to make a move in 2025. They had a solid year in 2024; even though they lost their bowl game, they still won nine games and finished in the top 20. It’s not like the SEC schedule is going to get much easier from year to year, so the Gamecocks have to figure out a way to maintain the success they had last year, if not add to it.

The Gamecocks, a team with fairly high expectations this season, does not return as many starters as some of their conference foes, but that hasn’t deterred them from their goals.

2025 South Carolina Gamecocks Basic Facts

Head Coach: Shane Beamer (5th season)

2025 Conference: Southeastern Conference (SEC)

2024 Record: 9-4 (5-3), 6th in SEC

Final Resolution of Last Season: Lost Citrus Bowl, ranked 19th (AP)

2024 Scoring Offensive Rank: T-47th (30.5)

2024 Scoring Defensive Rank: T-12th (18.1)

South Carolina Key Additions and Subtractions

IN – Rahsul Faison, running back. Transferred from Utah State.

IN – Brandon Cisse, cornerback. Transferred from NC State.

OUT – Nick Emmanwori, safety. Drafted by Seattle in 2nd round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – Kyle Kennard, linebacker. Drafted by LA Chargers in 4th round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – TJ Sanders, defensive tackle. Drafted by Buffalo in 2nd round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – Demetrius Knight, linebacker. Drafted by Cincinnati in 2nd round of 2025 Draft.

Best Game on the Schedule in 2025

November 29 vs. Clemson. In their regular season finale, there is a chance that the historic Palmetto Bowl could feature two top-ten teams, and therefore have College Football Playoff implications. No pressure, guys.

2025 South Carolina Gamecocks: Outlook

Starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers will be leading the South Carolina offense again. He had a great freshman year, which excites people to see what he can do this year. Hopefully, for his sake, that includes avoiding the sophomore slump. 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns is pretty good for a freshman, and then consider the almost 700 rushing yards and seven touchdowns he ran for, and you’ve got yourself a player. The primary running back, Raheim Sanders, is gone, but Rahsul Faison comes in highly regarded (though he has had to navigate through some eligibility issues for a rare seventh year of playing college ball). If Faison is ruled ineligible, Oscar Adaway may end up as RB-1.

South Carolina’s defense has its share of upperclassmen leading the way. They lost their top five tacklers to the NFL, plus Kyle Kennard, which admittedly is a problem, but Jalon Kilgore was one of the top defensive backs in FBS in terms of interceptions last season. This is the side of the ball where I worry about the Gamecocks, as they have lost a lot of production.

South Carolina starts out with the BNG (Beamer Nostalgia Game) against Virginia Tech, and then after an FCS layup, they fly into the SEC schedule. With the exception of Coastal Carolina in the penultimate weekend, the schedule generally gets tougher as it progresses. The Gamecocks will have to start fast and ride a wave of momentum into their conference schedule. They beat some of these teams last season, including A&M and Clemson, but can they do it again? It’s going to be on the throwing arm of Sellers to get it done.