2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team explained

The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by Shane Beamer in his third year as their head coach.

This is also expected to be the final year for the East division, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.

Despite quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette having two of the best individual seasons in school history in their final college year,^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} the team was noted by the media for being heavily affected by injuries.^{[5] [6] [7]} South Carolina finished sixth in the final SEC East,^{[8] [9] [10]} with an overall record of 5–7, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2020.^[11]

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team drew an average home attendance of 77,833 in 2023, the 16th highest in college football.^[12]

Schedule

Prior to the season, several sports websites named South Carolina as having the most difficult schedule in the country in 2023.^{[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]}

Game summaries

vs No. 21 North Carolina (Duke's Mayo Classic, rivalry)

See also: 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team.

Statistics	UNC	SC
First downs	21	20
Total yards	71–437	70–351
Rushing yards	39–168	31– -2
Passing yards	269	353
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–32–2	30–39–0
Time of possession	32:37	27:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Carolina	Passing		24/32, 269 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing		15 carries, 103 yards
Receiving		7 receptions, 66 yards, TD
South Carolina	Passing		30/39, 353 yards
Rushing	Dakereon Joyner	12 carries, 23 yards, TD
Receiving		9 receptions, 178 yards

vs No. 6 Furman (FCS)

See also: 2023 Furman Paladins football team.

Statistics	FU	SC
First downs	16	25
Total yards	65–323	77–571
Rushing yards	31–80	39–108
Passing yards	243	463
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	20–34–1	32–38–0
Time of possession	28:07	31:53

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Furman	Passing	Tyler Huff	14/24, 129 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Jayquan Smith	8 carries, 30 yards
Receiving	Joshua Harris	6 receptions, 73 yards
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	25/27, 345 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Dakereon Joyner	11 carries, 42 yards, TD
Receiving	Xavier Legette	6 receptions, 118 yards, TD

at No. 1 Georgia (rivalry)

See also: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team.

Statistics	SC	UGA
First downs	17	29
Total yards	58–309	79–459
Rushing yards	16–53	44–190
Passing yards	256	269
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–42–2	27–35–0
Time of possession	22:47	37:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	22/42, 256 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Spencer Rattler	8 carries, 35 yards
Receiving	O'Mega Blake	5 receptions, 86 yards
Georgia	Passing		27/35, 269 yards
Rushing		20 carries, 118 yards, TD
Receiving	Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint	6 receptions, 71 yards

vs Mississippi State

See also: 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.

Statistics	MSST	SC
First downs	20	19
Total yards	71–519	67–432
Rushing yards	23–32	47–144
Passing yards	487	288
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	30–48–1	18–20–0
Time of possession	28:18	31:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi State	Passing		30/48, 487 yards, TD, INT
Rushing		12 carries, 27 yards, TD
Receiving		7 receptions, 256 yards, TD
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	18/20, 288 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Mario Anderson	26 carries, 88 yards, TD
Receiving	Xavier Legette	5 receptions, 189 yards, 2 TD

at No. 21 Tennessee (rivalry)

See also: 2023 Tennessee Volunteers football team.

Statistics	SC	TENN
First downs	11	24
Total yards	63–333	72–477
Rushing yards	27–132	40–238
Passing yards	201	239
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–36–1	21–32–2
Time of possession	30:15	29:45

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	24/35, 169 yards, INT
Rushing	Mario Anderson	10 carries, 101 yards, TD
Receiving		7 receptions, 51 yards
Tennessee	Passing		21/32, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing		16 carries, 123 yards, TD
Receiving		9 receptions, 104 yards

vs Florida

See also: 2023 Florida Gators football team.

Statistics	FLA	SC
First downs	28	23
Total yards	81–494	63–465
Rushing yards	33–71	33–152
Passing yards	423	313
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	30–48–0	23–30–1
Time of possession	32:44	27:16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida	Passing	Graham Mertz	30/48, 423 yards, 3 TD
Rushing		11 carries, 50 yards
Receiving	Ricky Pearsall	10 receptions, 166 yards, TD
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	23/30, 313 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing	Mario Anderson	20 carries, 98 yards
Receiving	Xavier Legette	5 receptions, 110 yards

at No. 20 Missouri (rivalry)

See also: 2023 Missouri Tigers football team.

Statistics	SC	MIZZ
First downs	20	22
Total plays-yards	69–286	65–418
Rushing attempts-yards	29–69	40–213
Passing attempts-yards	40–217	25–205
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–40–1	15–25–0
Time of possession	31:08	28:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	23–40, 217 yards, 1 INT
Rushing	Mario Anderson	12 carries, 68 yards
Receiving		2 receptions, 50 yards
Missouri	Passing		15–25, 205 yards, 1 TD
Rushing		26 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD

at Texas A&M

Statistics	SC	TXAM
First downs	12	19
Total yards	209	354
Rushing yards	33	105
Passing yards	176	249
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	23:30	36:30

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	20/33, 176 yards, TD
Rushing	Mario Anderson	16 rushes, 72 yards
Receiving	Nyck Harbor	6 receptions, 59 yards
Texas A&M	Passing		20/30, 249 yards, TD
Rushing	Amari Daniels	13 rushes, 68 yards, TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 118 yards, TD

vs Jacksonville State

See also: 2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team.

Statistics	JVST	SC
First downs	23	20
Total yards	84–421	77–488
Rushing yards	57–225	38–89
Passing yards	196	399
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–27–2	27–39–1
Time of possession	27:07	32:53

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jacksonville State	Passing		12/23, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Ron Wiggins	17 carries, 88 yards
Receiving	Perry Carter	5 receptions, 106 yards, TD
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	27/38, 399 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Mario Anderson	16 carries, 75 yards
Receiving	Xavier Legette	9 receptions, 217 yards, 2 TD

vs Vanderbilt

See also: 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.

Statistics	VAN	SC
First downs	17	21
Total yards	235	487
Rushing yards	131	136
Passing yards	104	351
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–28–0	28–36–1
Time of possession	32:47	27:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Vanderbilt	Passing		13–28, 103 yards, TD
Rushing	Walter Taylor	6 carries, 39 yards
Receiving		3 receptions, 33 yards
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	28–36, 351 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing	Mario Anderson	9 carries, 102 yards, TD
Receiving	Xavier Legette	9 receptions, 120 yards

vs Kentucky

See also: 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team.

Statistics	UK	SC
First downs	17	17
Total yards	293	257
Rushing yards	122	50
Passing yards	171	207
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–34–1	19–27–0
Time of possession	28:21	31:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kentucky	Passing		17/34, 171 yards, TD, INT
Rushing		12 carries, 61 yards, TD
Receiving		4 receptions, 51 yards
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	19/27, 207 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Mario Anderson	13 carries, 27 yards
Receiving	Xavier Legette	6 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD

vs No. 24 Clemson (rivalry)

See also: 2023 Clemson Tigers football team.

Statistics	CLEM	SC
First downs	19	12
Total yards	73–319	56–169
Rushing yards	46–219	24–57
Passing yards	100	112
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–27–1	16–32–1
Time of possession	38:00	22:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Clemson	Passing		15/27, 100 yards, INT
Rushing		19 rushes, 89 yards
Receiving		5 receptions, 40 yards
South Carolina	Passing	Spencer Rattler	16/32, 112 yards, INT
Rushing	Mario Anderson	13 rushes, 35 yards
Receiving	Xavier Legette	6 receptions, 68 yards

Honoring Alshon Jeffery and the early 2010s teams

During halftime of the home game against Mississippi State on September 23, 2023, the university retired Alshon Jeffery's jersey, only the sixth retired jersey in program history, and second in two years, following Jadeveon Clowney in 2022.^[18]

Several weeks later, during halftime of the home game against Jacksonville State on November 4, 2023, the university honored the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 Gamecock football teams, ten years after the 2013 team played. Over that four-year stretch, Steve Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a combined 42–11 with one SEC East Championship. It was the most successful era in program history. Spurrier as well as roughly forty former players and their families were in attendance for the ceremony.

A special recognition had been in the works for several years, but had been rescheduled several times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, and conflicts with Spurrier’s schedule and availability. However, the timing was still not without some controversy, as D.J. Swearinger publicly expressed his displeasure with the ceremony taking place at halftime against a non-SEC and non-Power 5 school.^[19]

Spurrier gave a speech to the crowd: “Everybody asks, how’d you guys do it? I say, first of all we had talented players with the attitude, effort and leadership among the older guys passed through the team ... I’m a Florida Gator now, but my wife and I will always be South Carolina Gamecocks.”^[20]

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Consecutive season
		3rd
Dowell Loggains	Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach	1st
	Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach	3rd
	Associate head coach/special teams coordinator	3rd
	Defensive backs coach	3rd
	Running backs coach	3rd
Lonnie Teasley	Offensive line coach	1st
Justin Stepp	Wide receivers coach	3rd
	Tight ends coach	2nd
Sterling Lucas	Outside linebackers coach	2nd
	Defensive line coach	1st..

Notes and References

1. Web site: Miller . Kevin . 2023-11-21 . South Carolina Football: Spencer Rattler to play in Senior Bowl . 2024-07-28 . Garnet and Cocky . en-US.
2. Web site: 2019-07-30 . Xavier Legette . 2024-10-07 . University of South Carolina Athletics . en-US.
3. Web site: 2023-11-29 . Spencer Rattler declares for 2024 NFL Draft, forgoes South Carolina football eligibility . 2024-07-28 . Yahoo Sports . en-US.
4. Web site: Panthers trade up to select South Carolina WR Xavier Legette with No. 32 pick of 2024 NFL Draft . 2024-11-04 . NFL.com . en-US.
5. Web site: 2023-10-17 . Angry Beamer broke foot after S. Carolina loss . 2024-07-28 . ESPN.com . en.
6. Web site: Adams . Emily . South Carolina football injury report: How offensive line losses impacting Texas A&M game . 2024-07-28 . The Greenville News . en-US.
7. Web site: 2023-10-28 . South Carolina football O-line decimated by injury in 2023. Trai Jones the 12th of season . 2024-07-28 . Yahoo Sports . en-US.
8. Web site: 2020 Southeastern Conference Year Summary . 2024-10-14 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
9. Web site: 2023-06-01 . SEC to play eight conference games but eliminate divisions for 2024 season once Texas, Oklahoma join . 2023-11-30 . CBSSports.com . en.
10. Web site: Hodies . Hunter . 2023-11-29 . The SEC Will Be Getting Rid Of Divisions Starting In 2024 . 2023-11-30 . The Spun: What's Trending In The Sports World Today . en.
11. Web site: South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records . 2024-10-14 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
12. https://www.d1ticker.com/2023-fbs-attendance-trends/
13. Web site: Ranking College Football's 10 Hardest Schedules in 2023 .
14. Web site: College football schedule 2023: Next season's toughest slates, per Phil Steele's opponents' winning percentage . 2023-04-17 . 247Sports . en-US.
15. Web site: Parks . James . 2023-05-12 . College football strength of schedule rankings for 2023: SEC, Big Ten lead the way . 2023-12-04 . College Football HQ . en.
16. Web site: 2023 Football Schedule. South Carolina Gamecocks. December 22, 2022.
17. Web site: 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedule. Palmetto Bowl. January 6, 2023.
18. Web site: Bezjak . Lou . September 23, 2023 . Look: Alshon Jeffery, an all-time South Carolina great, has his jersey retired . October 2, 2024 . The State.
19. Web site: 2023-11-04 . D.J. Swearinger calls out South Carolina program for timing of 2010–13 reunion: 'Do better' . 2024-02-08 . Saturday Down South . en-US.
20. Web site: 2023-11-04 . South Carolina honors top football teams of Steve Spurrier era . 2024-02-07 . Yahoo Finance . en-US.