The South Carolina football team entered the 2024-25 season with low expectations after a 5-7 campaign in 2023.
Head coach Shane Beamer said he knew the talent and coaching in the locker room could translate into something more than a 5-7 record.
“We've got a heck of a team, and we are going to go work our butts off and leave this program better than we left it after the '23 season,” Beamer said. “Since they've come back in January, they've been unbelievable.”
Multiple seniors decided to come back for the 2024-25 season.
“What we're doing this year is the reason why a lot of guys came back," redshirt senior Alex Huntley said. "We knew what we could have, we knew what this team could be, so we just trusted each other, trusted the coaches, trusted the game plan.”
The Gamecocks started the 2024-25 season with a win against Old Dominion that showcased the team's newest editions.
South Carolina then traveled to face its first SEC opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats.
Redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw two touchdowns while the defense was able to hold the Wildcats to only two field goals on the afternoon.
Beamer said he saw potential in his team after the Kentucky game.
“I remember walking off the field that day thinking, 'Okay, we got a chance at being pretty good just because of the way that we can play defense,'” Beamer said.
ESPN College Gameday came to Columbia for the first time in a decade for the Gamecocks' second home game against then-No. 16 LSU. The Gamecocks lost its first game of the season after a missed field goal from senior kicker Alex Herrera sealed the LSU win 36-33.
Following a comfortable victory against the Akron Zips, the Gamecocks met with its second-ranked opponent of the season, the then-No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels, after a bye-week. South Carolina had trouble finding a rhythm on offense, losing 27-3.
Having a 2-0 start to the season the Gamecocks found itself at 3-3 entering the toughest stretch of its schedule after another close loss to then-No. 7 Alabama.
“I just remember one, the frustration after the Alabama game, and I meet with a group of our leaders of each position,” Beamer said. “I usually start each meeting like, 'What's on y'all's minds?' ... And they didn’t say a word other then, 'Win out. There is no other option.'”
South Carolina traveled to play one of the SEC's newest additions, the Oklahoma Sooners. The Gamecocks rode a 21-point opening quarter featuring two defensive touchdowns to the 35-9 win over the Sooners, gaining its fourth victory of the season.
The Gamecocks took its victory back home to Columbia to play then-No. 10 Texas A&M. South Carolina defeated the Aggies at home after an sold out game at Williams-Brice Stadium. This would mark the team's first win against a ranked opponent this season.
Sixth-year tight end Josh Simon felt the Gamecocks were capable of this all season.
“We know what we got, we know the team we got, we just had to come together," Simon said. "Tonight was the first time we actually put it together.”
The Gamecocks opened the final month of the regular season against the No. 23 Missouri Tigers. Beamer used the phrase "They Remember November" to express the importance of November's stretch of games to his team.
The Gamecocks took the lead in the final 15 seconds of the game after a touchdown pass from Sellers to senior running back Raheim Sanders. The play would ultimately win South Carolina the game 34-30.
The win officially marked Beamer's first winning season in conference play as the head coach of the Gamecocks and the first time the Gamecocks won over AP ranked opponents in three consecutive weeks.
After extending its winning streak to five games with a home victory against Wofford, South Carolina was set to finish the season against No. 12 Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl.
South Carolina won the game after Sellers ran 20 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter with a minute left on the clock to take the lead. After South Carolina scored, Clemson was trying to move down the field to field goal territory, but junior quarterback Cade Klubnik threw a game-sealing interception to make the final score 17-14 South Carolina.
Following the win, the Gamecocks were sitting at 9-3, on the cusp of making the College Football Playoffs, ranked 14th in the country.
Beamer said he felt as if the team had made its point to be in the College Football Playoffs.
“I get it. The committee has a really tough job. They have to choose the 12 best teams, but I get it. We got three losses. I understand that,” Beamer said. “But it's hard for me to sit there and say that we're not one of the 12 best teams in the country.”
The No. 13 Gamecocks fell short of a playoff selection and were later selected to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against the No. 20 Fighting Illini on Dec. 31.
South Carolina lost to Illinois after a tense game with multiple altercations between both head coaches.
The team still had a historical turn-around season that saw Beamer take the record for most wins in his first four seasons as the Gamecocks coach with 29. The South Carolina Gamecocks ended the season 9-4 and 4th in the SEC.
The rise of LaNorris Sellers
The 2024-25 season was Sellers' first time starting for South Carolina as he sat behind current New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler a year prior.
After his performance against Missouri this season, Sellers' name started to rise in the media. He finished the game with a 21 for 30 completion rate with 353 yards passing with five touchdowns.
His performance was nothing new to his teammates.
“He's a guy the whole team trusts, and he's a leader, he's a great player and it's only up from here for him,” Huntley said.
When South Carolina played Clemson, Sellers threw for 164 yards and one interception. His mobility showed while having 16 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
By the end of the season, Beamer said he believed Sellers is the best player in the country and a Heisman candidate. He said he has had an amazing progression as a young quarterback with the potential to be one of the most exciting names in college football.
Sellers was named the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, finishing the season with 2,534 yards passing with 18 touchdowns, along with 674 yards on the ground with seven rushing touchdowns.
Success in the portal
South Carolina used the transfer portal going into the 2024-25 to its own advantage. The team had over 20 transfer recruits commit to play for South Carolina, many of which playing key roles for the Gamecocks.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins lll was recruited from the North Carolina Central Eagles where he was a three-year starter and has added veteran depth to the offensive line this season. After spending this season with the Gamecocks, he was awarded the Outstanding Student award and the Rex Enright Captains Award.
Sixth-year linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. has made a change during his debut year here at South Carolina. He made his impact on the field by finishing the season with 57 solo tackles, two sacks and one interception that clinched the game against Clemson.
“You look at the guys we brought in from the portal last year, two of the most impactful guys that we’ve had, Torricelli Simpkins and Demetrius Knight,” Beamer said.
Senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders made his name known on the offensive side of the ball at South Carolina. He finished this season with a total of 183 carries for 881 yards rushing with 11 rushing touchdowns; he was also named 2024 Comeback Player of the Year.
Fifth-year edge Kyle Kennard showed his talent for the Gamecocks this year. The former Georgia Tech player finished the 2024-25 season with 20 solo tackles, three forced fumbles and 11.5 sacks, which ranked seventh in the nation. Kennard was awarded the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year trophy for his efforts.
The 2024-25 season has been historic for the Gamecocks with the help of new additions, stand-out wins and offensive players.