There's a lot of hype.
David Pollack Predicts Down Season for Rising SEC Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2024 college football season witnessed the emergence of several programs that typically receive little attention. Some of these teams reached the College Football Playoff, while others became significant contenders in their conferences.
The South Carolina Gamecocks were a team that didn't make it to the playoffs, but they still posed a challenge within their conference. They finished the season with a record of 9-4 and ranked No. 15 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. There was some discussion among fans suggesting that South Carolina was unfairly excluded from the playoffs, but ultimately, they just missed the cut.
As the 2025 season approaches, the Gamecocks are looking to make significant progress. They are led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who last year threw for 2,534 yards, achieving 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for 674 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
On "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the college football analyst expresses skepticism about South Carolina's performance this upcoming season.
"If you think nine wins, I'm not with you on this one," Pollack said. "I'm thinking lower for South Carolina. Just because of all that experience. Your top three wide receivers. Your tight end. All of the guys we just mentioned on defense. Your offensive coordinator. Like, dude, this is a lot of things to replace."
Pollack expressed his appreciation for South Carolina's early-season schedule. He highlighted their matchups against the Virginia Tech Hokies, South Carolina State, Vanderbilt Commodores, Missouri Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats. He believes this lineup presents a valuable opportunity for the team to work out any issues they may have.
However, he mentioned that things become quite challenging after that. The Gamecocks will face the LSU Tigers on the road, the Oklahoma Sooners at home, the Alabama Crimson Tide at home, the Ole Miss Rebels and the Texas A&M Aggies on the road and the Clemson Tigers at home.
He believes that South Carolina will finish the season with seven or eight wins but does not expect them to be a contender for the College Football Playoff, despite what some may think. The Gamecocks will kick off the season at 3:00 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names SEC Contender That Can't Win a National Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
