An upset win and the fanfare around it can easily lock fans into viewing the game in the short term. It can be easily oversimplified as a stroke of luck or a great moment in an otherwise disappointing season. But the Gamecocks' victory over No. 18 Tennessee meant more than that. Here’s why:
Bowl game back on the table
Going into the season, many fans thought that a bowl appearance was a reasonable expectation. After a three-win season, the five or six wins necessary to make it to a bowl game would be a sign of growth in the program. However, after losing to Kentucky and missing the opportunity to upset both Texas A&M and Georgia, the possibility of a bowl game seemed lost. Both the student section and the players have portrayed a certain amount of disillusionment in the weeks following the loss to Georgia, but this win changes that. With a 4-4 record and home games remaining against both Missouri and Western Carolina, a bowl game and a more meaningful season have been brought back into focus.
Foreshadowing the future
As much as it means for this season, this game says more about the future of the program in the seasons to come. Rico Dowdle and A.J. Turner, a true freshman and a redshirt freshman, led in rushing yards. Deebo Samuel, Bryan Edwards and K.C. Crosby, all underclassmen, led in receiving yards. Not to mention the performance put on by freshman Jake Bentley, who threw for two touchdowns and a total of 167 yards in what was only his second collegiate start.
It might also be a good time to mention that ESPN ranks South Carolina’s recruiting class No. 15 in the nation. A primetime win over a top-25 team can only help recruiting efforts.
A signature win for Muschamp
Simply put, a win like this buys Muschamp and his staff more time. Muschamp does have the cushion of being a first-year coach, but aside from this and a strong recruiting class, his momentum was beginning to slip. No matter what the rest of the season brings, a memorable win over a ranked conference opponent will remain in the minds of fans and administration as a sign of what the Gamecocks can do with Muschamp as their head coach.