While most Gamecock fans differ on what would be considered a successful season in 2024, most, if not all, agree that missing out on a bowl game for the second straight season would be a massive failure. Despite a brutal schedule, getting to a bowl game is not out of the question, but this will likely require that South Carolina upset a couple of teams along the way.

That is why the second game of the season against the Kentucky Wildcats is the most important game on the schedule for the Gamecocks.

I think the Gamecocks’ schedule can be divided into three categories: games they should win, games they’re unlikely to win, and 50-50 matchups. 

Old Dominion, Akron, Vanderbilt, and Wofford fall into the first category of games USC should win in 2024. I do not see any of these being particularly close.

Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Clemson make up the category of games they’re unlikely to win. A win can’t be ruled out, but there is no doubt these are the toughest games of the season. Luckily, South Carolina can achieve all of their goals without winning any of these games.

The last category is toss-up games and consists of Kentucky, LSU, Texas A&M, and Missouri. 

I think one could make the argument that Clemson is a toss-up because they have struggles of their own and anything can happen in a rivalry game. LSU could also be considered a game USC is unlikely to win given the Tigers’ success last season and overall talent level. Given that this game is at home and early in the season, LSU may still be trying to plug some holes in their roster, mainly at QB, WR, and on defense, which is why I feel like it is a toss-up. 

Assuming the Gamecocks win all four games in the first category and lose all 4 in the second, they would need two wins out of the third group consisting of Kentucky, LSU, Texas A&M, and Missouri to qualify for a bowl game.

Fortunately for South Carolina, three of the four are at home, with the lone road contest being against the Kentucky Wildcats. 

I think the easiest path to getting to bowl season is taking care of business against the group of four winnable games and then beating Kentucky. The Gamecocks will still need to defeat one more opponent to get their sixth win, and while there is a chance they could get to six wins without beating the Wildcats, that path is much more difficult and unlikely.

Beating the Wildcats and needing to steal one game against LSU, A&M, Missouri, or anyone from the second category is a much more comfortable scenario than losing to Kentucky and needing to gain two more wins the rest of the way outside of the first group of teams.

The matchup against the Wildcats will not be easy as this will be Sellers’ second start of his career and the first one on the road. It may be too early in the season for the Gamecocks to have clear answers at certain positions like o-line, WR, and DB. So, this game will not be an easy game for them.

That said, I think the games against the remaining teams in this category are more challenging.

LSU is a highly talented program and even though South Carolina has recruited (both high school and the portal) well under Beamer, the discrepancy in talent between the two programs is much higher than between USC and Kentucky.

Texas A&M and Missouri are programs that Beamer is a combined 1-5 against since taking over at South Carolina. Losing to Kentucky and having to potentially beat both of these programs is far from a favorable situation for the Gamecocks.

I think USC has what it takes to beat anyone on their schedule including any one of the teams from the “unlikely to beat” group. I would not be shocked if they pulled off an upset against one of these teams.

However, beating Kentucky and setting themselves up for one upset instead of losing to the Wildcats and having to steal two victories against likely superior programs is the easiest path to bowl season. Anything is possible, but why make things harder on yourself. Take care of business against the Wildcats, and South Carolina’s chances of making a bowl game and possibly making a surprising run next season increases exponentially.