The 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team (variously USC, SC, South Carolina, or The Gamecocks) represented the University of South Carolina in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marked the Gamecocks 125th overall season, 27th as a member of the SEC, and 3rd under head coach Will Muschamp. The Gamecocks played their home games at WilliamsâÂÂBrice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina and compiled an overall record of 7âÂÂ6, and 4âÂÂ4 in SEC play.
South Carolina entered the season with high expectations after overachieving the previous year. The Gamecocks won their season-opener, and entered the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2014. Through the regular season, they defeated every unranked opponent and lost to every ranked opponent. By the end of the regular season, Muschamp had become the first coach in school history to win 22 games and reach three bowl games in his first three seasons. However, the season ended with a "disaster" in the Belk Bowl, and this would be Muschamp's final winning season; it would also be South Carolina's final winning season until 2021.
Gamecock fan Marcus Washington's trap remix of "Sandstorm" also made its debut at WilliamsâÂÂBrice Stadium, and has since become a "staple" at home football games.
South Carolina will have sixteen returning players on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams that started games in 2017.
<small>Listed in the order that they were released</small>
The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018, with the Gamecocks predicted to finish in second place in the East Division.
The Gamecocks had three players at five positions selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
1st team
Deebo Samuel â WR
3rd team
Zack Bailey â OL
Specialists
1st team
Deebo Samuel â RET
Deebo Samuel â all purpose player
2nd team
Joseph Charlton â P
South Carolina added two grad transfers, and two regular transfers to the 2018 roster.
The 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks Garnet and Black spring game took place in Columbia, South Carolina on March 31, at 12:00 p.m. EST. The game was broadcast live on the SEC Network. The Black team defeated the Garnet team by a score of 34âÂÂ20, QB Jake Bentley completed 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards and 2 TD's.
South Carolina announced its 2018 football schedule on September 19, 2017. The schedule consists of 7 home games and 5 away games for the regular season. The Gamecocks hosted SEC opponents Georgia (rivalry) on September 8, Missouri on October 6, Texas A&M on October 13, and Tennessee, on October 27. South Carolina traveled to four SEC opponents: Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Florida.
South Carolina's out of conference opponents represent the ACC, MAC, SoCon and Sun Belt conferences. The Gamecocks hosted three nonâÂÂconference games which are against Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt, Akron of the MAC and Chattanooga of the SoCon. South Carolina traveled to archrival Clemson of the ACC for 116th annual Palmetto Bowl to finish the regular season. The Gamecocks were originally scheduled to face Conference USA opponent Marshall on September 15, but this game was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence. Akron was then scheduled as a replacement.
South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp entered his third-year in 2018. Muschamp led the Gamecocks to 15 wins and 11 losses over his first two years, tying Steve Spurrier, and Joe Morrison for most wins in the first two seasons as a Gamecock head coach. On December 6, Offensive Coordinator Kurt Roper was terminated after offensive struggles. Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon served as the offensive coordinator for the Outback Bowl win against Michigan, and was promoted to permanent offensive coordinator to replace Roper. On January 5, Dan Werner accepted the role of quarterbacks coach. Werner has previously been on Ole Miss, Miami, and Alabama's coaching staff.
On January 11, it was announced that former South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore would be joining the staff as the director of player development.