Comparing D-1 NCAA CFB Teams in South Carolina

The college football season is in full swing. So far, the season has been nothing short of predictable, Alabama not being in the top four, Michigan’s scandals and so much more has happened in this action-packed season. But there is also a ton of action in the state of South Carolina, from the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, to the Clemson Tigers in Clemson and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Conway.

Currently, the highest ranked team in South Carolina is the Clemson Tigers. According to Athlon Sports, they are sitting as the 30th ranked team in the nation. Clemson has had a down season at 7-4, losing to Duke, Florida State, Miami, and North Carolina State. All three out of four of those teams were ranked this season, the highest being Florida State, being ranked number four in the nation. Going into overtime and competing with a solid Florida State team at home is an impressive feat. Despite the awkward start for Clemson, they have the 44th Total Offense in the nation. They have a subpar offense led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Will Shipley and more notable names. Defensively, they hold the 7th Total Defense in the nation, which has one of the best Defensive Backs in the nation,cornerback Nate Wiggins, and defensive lineman Xavier Thomas. They have a very strong case for being the best team in the state. 

Currently, the highest ranked team in South Carolina is the Clemson Tigers. According to Athlon Sports, they are sitting as the 30th ranked team in the nation. Clemson has had a down season at 7-4, losing to Duke, Florida State, Miami, and North Carolina State. All three out of four of those teams were ranked this season, the highest being Florida State, being ranked number four in the nation. Going into overtime and competing with a solid Florida State team at home is an impressive feat. Despite the awkward start for Clemson, they have the 44th Total Offense in the nation. They have a subpar offense led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Will Shipley and more notable names. Defensively, they hold the 7th Total Defense in the nation, which has one of the best Defensive Backs in the nation,cornerback Nate Wiggins, and defensive lineman Xavier Thomas. They have a very strong case for being the best team in the state. 

Next, the Gamecocks come in as the 59th ranked team in the nation, according to Athlon Sports. Despite the offseason buzz, they have not lived up to their potential. They sit at a 5-6 record with losses to North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Mizzou. Their wins are over Furman, and Mississippi State. Almost all of those teams were ranked. The expectation this season was to be a program changing year. They have the 71st total offense, which was not the expectation at all. But, their offensive line has not helped that at all, allowing 30 sacks, which is tied at 125th in the nation with Northwestern. Despite that, key players like quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Leggette have been the highlights of their offense. But, their defense is young and sits at 120th in the nation, which is not a good look at all, but a key to their defense has been defensive back Jalon Kilgore, a freshman and Graduate defensive edge Jordan Strachan. Despite the stats, when this team is at its best it definitely could be one of the best teams in the state. 

Also, in South Carolina are the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Despite almost losing their starting QB to Auburn this offseason, they are having a solid season. Sitting as the 66thranked team in the nation. They have a 7-4 record with losses to a good UCLA team, Georgia State, and Georgia Southern. They have the 23rd ranked total offense in the nation, in recent years a top 25 offense has been normal in Conway. Their defense sits at 100th in the nation, but when you put out a very solid draft class of NFL capable players, your defense should make a fall like that. They have had key players show out like quarterback Grayson McCall and running back Braydon Bennet on offense. Their defense is anchored by defensive lineman Ja’qoun Griffin and other notable players. Stats wise, this team could make the argument over the other teams and is a very underrated team.

Furthermore, the order of the teams is based on opinion, but after talking with Clemson fan Brayden Guthrie, this is what he said, “I personally don’t think Clemson is number one in the state. I would put Coastal first and then us. But our offense just reeks.” A South Carolina fan, Braydon Lee immediately had a rebuttal and said, “South Carolina is the best team in the state. Don’t care about the record or anything, that boy Rattler is special.” 

Overall, many opinions could vary on how you feel about each team. Many people have a different style of football compared to others. But the rankings are just information taken from live football games. So in reality, the teams could be going anywhere.