The 1976 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Led by second-year head coach Jim Carlen, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 6âÂÂ5. The team played its home games at WilliamsâÂÂBrice Stadium.
After an upset over No. 16 Ole Miss, South Carolina was ranked No. 19 in the country, the program's highest ranking since 1971. It was also the first time the Gamecocks had been ranked in the top twenty in two consecutive seasons since 1959. However, the Gamecocks lost three of their last four games, and finished the season unranked.