Bowl projections for Gamecocks get sunnier after thrilling win over Missouri
Another Florida bowl destination has emerged for South Carolina football in the latest round of projections.
CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm and Sporting News predict the Gamecocks will head to Jacksonville to play in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2. Palm has South Carolina facing the ACC’s Louisville Cardinals, while Sporting News has USC matching up with SMU. These are the first projections this season to have USC in the Gator Bowl.
In his previous projections, Palm had South Carolina in the Music City Bowl in Nashville or the Texas Bowl.
For the second-straight week, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura both have the Gamecocks headed to Tampa for the ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly Outback Bowl) on Dec. 31. Schlabach has USC facing Iowa, while Bonagura has them going up against Illinois.
247Sports, Athlon Sports and Action Network’s Brett McMurphy also have the Gamecocks in Tampa against Iowa.
“The Gamecocks won four straight, and have at least a puncher’s chance to be in the at-large mix as the highest-ranked three-loss team in a few weeks if they end the season with wins over Wofford and Clemson,” 247Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote.
South Carolina (7-3) defeated its third-straight ranked opponent on Saturday in a thrilling 34-30 come-from-behind win over Missouri. The Gamecocks moved up to No. 19 in the latest Associated Press poll and should move up when the College Football Playoff rankings come out Tuesday. USC was No. 23 last week.
Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks last appeared in a bowl game after the 2022 season, a 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.
South Carolina has a chance to get to nine wins before bowl selections are officially made Dec. 8. The Gamecocks close the season at home against Wofford and on the road vs. Clemson.
The Southeastern Conference has automatic tie-ins with seven bowls this year after picks for the college football playoffs are settled. SEC bowl tie-ins are The Citrus Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, ReliaQuest Bowl, Texas Bowl, Gator Bowl and Music City Bowl.
The Citrus Bowl gets its pick of the top SEC team available after the playoff bracket is announced. The rest of the bowls will be assigned by the SEC.
The SEC also has affiliations with the Birmingham Bowl and Gasparilla Bowl if needed.
Gamecock bowl history
Bowls listed by season
- 2022 — Gator Bowl (L, 45-38 vs. Notre Dame)
- 2021 — Duke’s Mayo Bowl (W, 38-21 vs. UNC)
- 2018 — Belk Bowl (L, 28-0 vs. Virginia)
- 2017 — Outback Bowl (W, 26-19 vs. Michigan)
- 2016 — Birmingham Bowl (L, 46-39/OT vs. South Florida)
- 2014 — Independence Bowl (W, 24-21 vs. Miami)
- 2013 — Capital One Bowl (W, 34-24 vs. Wisconsin)
- 2012 — Outback Bowl (W, 33-28 vs. Michigan)
- 2011 — Capital One Bowl (W, 30-13 vs. Nebraska)
- 2010 — Chick-fil-A Bowl (L, 26-17 vs. Florida State)
- 2009 — Papajohns.com Bowl (L, 20-7 vs. UConn)
- 2008 — Outback Bowl (L, 31-10 vs. Iowa)
- 2006 — Liberty Bowl (W, 44-36 vs. Houston)
- 2005 — Independence Bowl (L, 38-31 vs. Missouri)
- 2001 — Outback Bowl (W, 31-28 vs. Ohio State)
- 2000 — Outback Bowl (W, 24-7 vs. Ohio State)
- 1994 — Carquest Bowl (W, 24-21 vs. West Virginia)
- 1988 — Liberty Bowl (L, 34-10 vs. Indiana)
- 1987 — Gator Bowl (L, 30-13 vs. LSU)
- 1984 — Gator Bowl (L, 21-14 vs. Oklahoma State)
- 1980 — Gator Bowl (L, 37-9 vs. Pitt)
- 1979 — Hall of Fame Bowl (L, 24-14 vs. Missouri)
- 1975 — Tangerine Bowl (L, 20-7 vs. Miami of Ohio)
- 1969 — Peach Bowl (L, 14-3 vs. West Virginia)
- 1945 — Gator Bowl (L, 26-14 vs. Wake Forest)
