The 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team (variously USC, SC, South Carolina, or The Gamecocks) represents the University of South Carolina in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marks the Gamecocks 125th overall season, 27th as a member of the SEC, and 3rd under head coach Will Muschamp. The Gamecocks play their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
Video 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
Background
Previous season
South Carolina started out the 2017 season with a win over NC State in the Belk Kickoff Game 38-35. They then followed it up with a road win against Missouri 31-13. In the following game vs Kentucky, star Wide receiver Deebo Samuel broke his right Fibula, and would miss the remainder of the season. After close losses to Texas A&M and Kentucky, South Carolina defeated 3 SEC schools in a row; Arkansas, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. After a hard fought 24-10 loss to rivals #1 Georgia on the road, South Carolina defeated Florida 28-20 finishing 5-3 in SEC play good enough for 2nd in the SEC east. South Carolina recorded their 5th 9 win season in the last 8 years, going 9-4, 5-3 in the SEC. The Gamecocks finished in the top 2 in the SEC East for the 4th time in 8 years, and won their 5th bowl game in 7 years defeating Michigan 26-19 in the Outback Bowl.
Offseason departures
Maps 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
Preseason
Returning starters
South Carolina will have sixteen returning players on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams that started games in 2017.
Offense
Recruiting
Position key
2018 recruiting class
Incoming transfers
South Carolina added two transfer to the 2018 roster.
2019 recruiting class
South Carolina jumped out to a fast start for recruiting the 2019 class with early commitments from 4 star Defensive Lineman Rodricus Fitten, and 3 star Offensive tackle Jaylen Nichols. In January 2018 the Gamecocks received commitments from 4 star OT Mark Fox out of Miami, and 3 star JUCO DE Devontae Davis from Georgia Military College. In February the Gamecocks added local South Carolina 4 star WR Jamario Holley out of Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, SC. USC also picked up 3 star center, Vincent Murphy from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida.
On April 4th, 2018, 4 star QB Ryan Hilinski out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California committed to South Carolina. Ryan is the brother of the former Washington State QB Tyler Hilinski. Ryan is rated the #1 QB in the 2019 class according to the ESPN rankings. Also in April, 4 star TE Traevon Kenion committed to the Gamecocks.
On May 25, 5-star Defensive end Zacch Pickens committed to South Carolina.
Personnel
Coaching staff
South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp will enter his third-year in 2018. Muschamp has led the Gamecocks to 15 wins and 11 losses over his first two years, tying Steve Spurrier, and Joe Morrison for most wins in the first two seasons as a Gamecock head coach. On December 6th, Offensive Coordinator Kurt Roper was terminated after offensive struggles. Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon served as the Offensive coordinator for the Outback bowl win against Michigan, and was promoted to permanent Offensive Coordinator to replace Roper. On January 5th, Dan Werner accepted the role of Quarterbacks coach. Werner has previously been on Ole Miss, Miami, and Alabama's coaching staff.
On January 11th, it was announced that former South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore would be joining the staff as the Director of Player Development.
Roster
Schedule
Spring game
The 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks Garnet and Black spring game took place in Columbia, South Carolina on March 31st, at 12:00 p.m. EST. The game was broadcast live on the SEC Network. The Black team defeated the Garnet team by a score of 34-20, QB Jake Bentley completed 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards and 2 TD's.
Regular season
South Carolina announced its 2018 football schedule on September 19, 2017. The schedule consists of 7 home games and 5 away games for the regular season. The Gamecocks will host SEC opponents Georgia (Rivalry) on September 8th, Missouri on October 6th, Texas A&M on October 13th, and Tennessee, on October 27th. South Carolina will travel to four SEC opponents to Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Florida.
South Carolina's out of conference opponents represent the ACC, C-USA, SoCon and Sun Belt conferences. The Gamecocks will host three non-conference games which are against Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt, Marshall of C-USA and Chattanooga of the SoCon. South Carolina will travel to archrival Clemson for 116th annual Palmetto Bowl to finish the regular season.
- Schedule Source:
Game summaries
Coastal Carolina
The Gamecocks open the 2018 season with a home game against Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt. The teams have only met one other time in 2013 with South Carolina winning 70-10.
Georgia
In week 2 of the College Football season, South Carolina will host rivals Georgia. Georgia leads the series 50-18-2 all-time, and has won the last 3 meetings. South Carolina has won 3 out of the last 4 games played at home.
Marshall
In week 3, South Carolina will host Marshall of C-USA in the two schools second ever meeting. The only other meeting between the schools took place in 1998, where Marshall defeated USC 24-21.
at Vanderbilt
South Carolina has dominated Vanderbilt all-time holding a commanding record of 23-4, and are currently on a 9 game win streak. This is South Carolina's first road game of the 2018 season.
at Kentucky
Despite comfertably leading the all-time series against Kentucky 17-11-1, UK holds a 4 game win streak against the Gamecocks. Will Muschamp's squad will be looking to change that in week 5 when South Carolina travels to Lexington, KY.
Missouri
In the annual Battle of Columbia, The Gamecocks host the Missouri Tigers, the all-time series is tied at 4-4, however, South Carolina leads 4-2 since Missouri has joined the SEC East. The winner of this rivalry game receives the Mayors' Cup Trophy.
Texas A&M
In week 7, South Carolina will host protected rivals Texas A&M of the SEC West. USC is 0-4 all-time vs. Texas A&M.
Tennessee
Will Muschamp has never lost to Tennessee in his entire coaching career, he is a perfect 6-0 vs Tennessee dating back to his time at Florida. Tennessee leads the all-time series 25-9, however, South Carolina has won 6 out of the last 10 meetings, and currently holds a 2 game win streak.
at Ole Miss
In week 10 USC will travel to Ole Miss of the SEC West. Ole Miss leads the all-time series at 8-7, South Carolina has won the last 2 meetings (2008,2009). The last matchup came in 2009 when a Steve Spurrier led South Carolina Gamecocks team upset then #4 Ole Miss 16-10 on a thursday night game on ESPN. At the time it was South Carolina's first win over a top 5 ranked team at Williams-Brice Stadium.
at Florida
South Carolina will face SEC East rivals Florida in week 11. Florida leads all-time 26-9-3, however, South Carolina has won the last 5 out of 8 meetings, including last season.
Chattanooga
South Carolina will face FCS Chattanooga of the SoCon in the first ever meeting between schools. This will be the final home game of the 2018 season for the Gamecocks.
at Clemson
South Carolina finishes the 2018 regular season against archrival Clemson. Clemson leads the all-time series 69-42-4, however, the last 10 meetings have been split 5 each, including a 5 game South Carolina winning streak from 2009-2013.
Rankings
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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