The University of South Carolina has competed in college football competition unofficially since 1892. The Gamecocks played their first game against Furman, even though the football team wasn’t formally sanctioned by the college. Since then, the Gamecocks have been one of the longest-standing outfits across the Southern, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conferences.
At the time of writing, the Gamecocks’ all-time record is .510, with 638 wins, 613 losses, and 44 tied games. With just one divisional and one conference title to their name, it’s fair to say the Gamecocks aren’t regulars on the postseason scene. In fact, you can click here to find the latest futures odds on this year’s SEC Championship winner and, at the time of writing, the Gamecocks are currently priced as long as +50000.
Although the Gamecocks rarely trouble the top end of the Southeastern Conference, the team still enjoys some fierce rivalries with colleges in their vicinity. Below, we’ll shine a spotlight on the Gamecocks’ three fiercest rivals in the college football landscape.
Clemson Tigers and the Palmetto Bowl
The Gamecocks’ most intense rivalry is with the Clemson Tigers. When these two colleges lock horns, it’s the hottest ticket in all of South Carolina, since it’s the University of South Carolina vs. Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina. Historically, this match-up was held on Big Thursday in Columbia’s fairgrounds, which was a state holiday for citizens. Since 1960, the game has been held alternately by each team’s stadium.
Officially, the game is known as the “Palmetto Bowl” and has been played 120 times, making it the 21st most-played college game in the history of the NCAAF. It’s fair to say Clemson have had the upper hand over the Gamecocks through the decades, winning 73, losing 43, and tying just four of their meetings. The Gamecocks’ best winning streak came between 2009 and 2013, when they managed to defeat the Tigers in five successive seasons.
The Border Rivalry with Georgia Bulldogs
The so-called “Border Rivalry” between the Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs dates back to 1894. The inaugural meeting saw the Bulldogs wipe the floor with the Gamecocks with a 40-0 shutout. The Bulldogs have a dominant record against the Gamecocks, winning 55, losing 19, and tying just two. Georgia are currently on a four-game winning streak against the Gamecocks and, in the past, they’ve enjoyed up to ten-game winning streaks, demonstrating their undisputed class.
The reason these two colleges have an intense rivalry is due to their respective reputations. They are both considered “flagship” colleges for the state systems of South Carolina and Georgia. Although the Bulldogs are one of, if not the best college teams in the entirety of the NCAAF right now, the two universities still compete in terms of recruitment to their respective football programs due to geography.
The “Battle of the Carolinas”
Since 1903, the clash between the Gamecocks and the North Carolina Tar Heels has been known as the “Battle of the Carolinas”. As with their rivalries against the Tigers and the Bulldogs, the Gamecocks don’t hold a great record in the Battle of the Carolinas. In fact, the Tar Heels have almost won twice as many of their meetings, with 36 victories, 20 losses and 4 ties.
As with the Bulldogs, the Gamecocks also compete with the Tar Heels on the recruitment front. Since both teams are relatively close geographically speaking, the two colleges battle hard to recruit local talent. The Tar Heels won their last meeting in the 2023 season, brushing the Gamecocks aside 31-17 in Charlotte. Looking at the Gamecocks’ start to the 2024 season, three wins and three defeats leaves them in the lower reaches of the Southeastern Conference. With very little to shout about this season, fans will be gearing up for the final game of the regular season on November 30, when the Palmetto Bowl comes around in Clemson. The Gamecocks will hope they can put a spanner in the works of the Tigers’ postseason aspirations