Shane Beamer sends strong message about Gamecocks’ SEC schedule gauntlet
Some folks choose to train for marathons, for 5Ks, for normal races. But some maniacs sign up for obstacle course races that sound hellish.
You run for a little bit, no big deal. Then you’ve got to carry a hulking atlas stone. Then leap a hurdle and trudge through muddy water. Then army crawl under barbed wire. Then throw a heavy chain over your shoulder and climb stairs. Then — and, yes this is real — jump over fire.
Some football programs in America run 5Ks. Some even attempt marathons. South Carolina is signed up for a torture fest, a test of pain where simply finishing feels like a heck of an accomplishment.
The Gamecocks’ schedule has always been almost egregiously difficult. Even before they joined the SEC in 1992, their slate was loaded. Look back to the magical 1984 Black Magic season and you’ll find on USC’s schedule: Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida State and Clemson.
Then South Carolina joined the SEC and annually played Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Clemson.
All that is to say: The Gamecocks have never had an easy slate. They have also never faced a five-game stretch comparable to what’s on the horizon.
At No. 11 LSU.
Vs. No. 6 Oklahoma.
Vs. No. 8 Alabama.
At No. 4 Ole Miss.
At No. 5 Texas A&M.
Based on a review of Sports Reference’s historical scheduling data, South Carolina has never played four-consecutive games — let alone five — against opponents that were ranked at the time of the matchup.
Now consider: South Carolina might play five-straight games against Top-15 opponents.
“If you don’t wanna play that schedule,” USC coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday, “I told our players, y’all chose the wrong conference to come play in. You should have gone playing to play in another conference.”
Of course, those are the AP poll rankings, which have no bearing on the College Football Playoff ranking. Those are also the rankings in early October — any one of those teams could fall out by the time they play South Carolina.
Yet, as much as you want to discredit strength of schedule and the AP Top 25 and whatever else, that five-game stretch is still remarkable to look at.
And staring at it evokes one of two thoughts. Either “Oh boy, South Carolina is screwed.” Or, “Well, at least the Gamecocks can still play themselves into the College Football Playoff.”
Shane Beamer and South Carolina’s schedule
Beamer falls into the latter category. For better or worse, the next month presents quite the opportunity for his football team.
“Don’t tell me in recruiting and when we brought you in the portal that you want to compete and you want to want to play against the best in the SEC and all of a sudden shy away from it,” Beamer said. “If you don’t want to compete against the best, there’s plenty of other conferences that they don’t play ranked teams every single week.”
Beamer seemed armed with an answer — a message — about this schedule. Perhaps it’s an anomaly to see that many opponents in a row with a little number next to their name, but this type of schedule isn’t going anywhere — especially as the SEC moves to a nine-game conference schedule next season.
This is life in the SEC, and South Carolina isn’t alone.
Per ESPN, the Gamecocks have just the eighth-toughest remaining strength of schedule in college football. The hardest remaining schedule belongs to Oklahoma, which plays unranked Texas and South Carolina before ending the season against five teams that are all currently ranked in the Top 15.
“Everybody plays a tough opponent because (the SEC is) the greatest conference in America,” Beamer said.
“As a competitor, you love that opportunity to go compete. And that’s been my message: Let’s go freaking compete because that’s what you all came here for.”
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
