After a successful 2022-2023 campaign that concluded with an 8-5 record and a Gator Bowl appearance under head coach Shane Beamer’s second season at the helm, the Gamecocks are expected to improve and extend their momentum with an incoming Top-20 recruiting class and the return of key veteran players.
The surprising decision of NFL-projected quarterback, Spencer Rattler, and his number one wide receiver, Juice Wells, to return to Columbia for their final season has boosted the team’s offensive firepower, while delivering much hopeful anticipation for the school’s passionate fanbase.
And with Beamer and his coaching staff earning the 2023 16th best-recruiting class in the nation and 7th in the Southeastern Conference, according to 247sports.com, Beamer’s production can add to the surrounding excitement.
Entering his third season in Columbia, Beamer has ignited fresh energy and optimism in the program, compiling a 2022 8-5 record, which would rank best since Will Muschamp’s second season in 2017, who finished with a 9-4 record and an Outback Bowl victory.
The state’s online gambling resource, BetSouthCarolina.com, took a look at how previous Gamecocks coaches fared in their third season, as well as Beamer’s incoming freshmen class, to weigh how the program might fare this upcoming year. While there is no legal South Carolina sports betting, keep it here for more coverage of the Gamecocks and college football.
Last Three Gamecocks Coaches in Year 3
Lou Holtz (2001)
Holtz’s best year arrived in his third season as head coach of the Gamecocks, compiling a 9-3 record along with an Outback Bowl victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Holtz’s impressive season was labeled as a resurging story, especially after his winless 1999 season and a massive 8-win improvement the following season. Holtz’s decline would then come, with three consecutive diminishing seasons until his official departure after the 2004 campaign.
Steve Spurrier (2007)
A head coaching reign that would span a decade, Spurrier’s third season as the Gamecock’s offensive-minded guru was mediocre, to say the least. Entering as the seventh-best team in the AP college football rankings in Week 1, Spurrier’s third campaign finished with a disappointing 6-6 record and no Bowl appearance. After succeeding Holtz in 2005, the Gamecocks gradually improved in Spurrier’s first two seasons, ending with 7-5 and 8-5 records, respectively.
However, his best was yet to come. Spurrier prolonged his career in Columbia for another 7.5 years, which included three straight 11-2 records from 2011-2013, all ending in Bowl victories. Spurrier resigned midway through the 2015 season, finishing with a 2-4 record.
Will Muschamp (2018)
Muschamp’s 4 ½-year career in South Carolina is described as inconsistent, struggling to sustain at least three straight winning records. Muschamp took over in 2016, leading the team to a 6-7 record. However, a strong recruiting class after his full inaugural season led to his best record with the Gamecocks at 9-4. His third season ended with a 7-6 record, losing the Belk Bowl to Virginia. The lack of consistent success and failure to attract top in-state recruits led to his dismissal from the program midway through the 2020 season.
Recruiting Class and Return of Veterans
With the 16th best-recruiting class in 2023, Beamer has exceeded expectations ahead of his third full season and will only continue to improve with the return of Heisman candidate Rattler and NFL-projected receiver, Juice Wells. The dynamic, offensive duo will be one of the best partnerships in the upcoming season, offering a bigger glimpse of what the South Carolina Gamecocks have to offer.
Currently, legal operating sportsbooks are providing odds as high as +15000 (Fanduel Sportsbook) for the Gamecocks to win the National Championship.
Sports gambling is currently not legal in South Carolina, but follow BetSouthCarolina.com for the latest news on legislation.
