Bryan McClendon’s audition ... and other key storylines for the Outback Bowl

South Carolina plays Michigan on Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl. For Gamecocks fans, it will be a reminder of the not-too-distant glory days, when New Year’s Day games against marquee opponents were a regular thing. For the Gamecocks football team, it’s a opportunity in these five areas:

McClendon’s Audition

Ever since he was hired two years ago, wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon has had the title of co-offensive coordinator. Now, he’ll finally get to live up to the title.

In his first 25 games with the team, McClendon worked under the now-fired Kurt Roper, who installed the system and called the plays. McClendon will be in charge against the Wolverines, calling plays for the first time in his collegiate career. Coach Will Muschamp has indicated McClendon has a chance to keep the job full time, and South Carolina’s performance in Tampa, Fla., could go a long way toward determining that.

Running Back Rotation

Sophomore Rico Dowdle, who started four games this year, will be available after missing the last half of the season with a broken bone in his leg. Now, he’s going to have to unseat sophomore A.J. Turner if he wants to get his starting job back. Turner started the final five games of the regular season and is the team’s leading rusher with 517 yards on 92 carries. And then there’s Ty’Son Williams, who started two games and is the team’s second-leading rusher with 460 yards on 92 carries. Consistency in the running game eluded South Carolina throughout the 2017 season, and deciding who the primary back is now might help for 2018.

Skai’s Swan Song

Maybe no player in school history has crossed more eras than Skai Moore, the senior linebacker who missed last season because of a neck injury but returned this year to again lead the team in tackles. Moore played on the 2013 team that won 11 games and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country. He also played on the 2015 team that won three games. And now he’s been an integral part of Muschamp’s second year of rebuilding. Along the way, he’s been a great player, too, and he’s on the verge of leading the team in tackles for a fourth season.

Bentley’s Progression

Sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley is fourth in the SEC in passing with 212.9 yards per game, but he still has room to grow. Last year, Bentley made a huge jump from the end of the regular season until the bowl game against USF, and he had his best collegiate game that year. However, there’s a big difference between the vanilla defense played by the Bulls and what Bentley will see from the Wolverines, whose defense is coached by Don Brown, one of the best and most aggressive coordinators in the country. Bentley will be happy to have a month to get ready for Brown and Michigan, which is third in the nation in total defense (268.6 ypg).

Number Nine

The Gamecocks can become just the seventh team in school history to win nine or more games in the season, joining the 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2001 and 1984 teams. If South Carolina can get to nine, it would triple the win total from just two years ago and could be enough to get the Gamecocks into the final Top 25 when the season is complete.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 8:15 AM with the headline "Bryan McClendon’s audition ... and other key storylines for the Outback Bowl."