Five potential SEC pod opponents for South Carolina

College football is an ever-changing sport. South Carolina, a member of the SEC since 1992, could be a part of some major changes moving forward.

With Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC in 2024, there’s a chance that divisions could be eliminated. There will be 16 teams in the conference, making for a possible pod system. That would mean nine league games and annual rivalries staying intact.

An expanded schedule would also allow for each team to play every team from the opposite division once every four years. That’s more frequent than the current league setup.

Nothing is set in stone, though. There’s still time to make the decision. But it makes one wonder, what would South Carolina’s schedule look like in the future? The SEC Network proposed one of the first hypothetical pod systems two summers ago, with the Gamecocks pooled with Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. In a nine-game conference schedule, they would have to play two other teams from the three other remaining pods.

Let’s take a look at the most intriguing opponents that South Carolina could play in a pod format.

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Tennessee

Besides Georgia, Florida and Kentucky, it would be weird to not see the Vols on South Carolina’s yearly schedule. Both teams have been playing each other on and off since 1903, with Tennessee winning 28 times.

There’s potentially going to be some heated battles over the next few years with both programs on the rise. Tennessee is solidifying itself as one of the premier offenses in the country, while the Gamecocks continue to trend upward.

Last season made for one of the best games of the college football season, with South Carolina pulling off a 63-38 upset win. Gamecock fans stormed the field and pandemonium followed. Looking ahead to this year, the Vols are going to be out for blood trying to put that loss behind them. All eyes should be on this rivalry for years to come.

Oklahoma

As one of the new kids on the block come 2024, it could be a rough transition to the SEC for the Sooners. It was a challenging first year for head coach Brett Venables, who led them to their first losing season since 1998.

There’s a few reasons why it would be intriguing to see these teams paired up. First off, Shane Beamer coached at Oklahoma for three years before becoming the Gamecocks’ head coach. He had some good years with the Sooners, helping them win three Big 12 titles. He’s always spoken highly about his time in Norman.

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Then, there’s the potential of a South Carolina-Clemson rivalry connection. Venables was Clemson’s defensive coordinator from 2012-21, facing Beamer’s squad once. That on its own could be enough reason to make this game happen.

Besides that, both programs are in similar spots. They’re trying to get back to where they were in the past, winning 10-plus games and making it to the conference championship. South Carolina isn’t miles ahead of Oklahoma, so it would be fun to watch these teams duke it out when the Sooners join the conference.

Texas A&M

South Carolina and Texas A&M have been playing against one another every year since 2014. The Aggies dominated this rivalry, winning the first eight matchups. But the Gamecocks responded with a 30-24 win last season to break the streak.

Moving forward, this could continue to be an interesting game on the yearly schedule. They’re slated to face off for the next two years. After this season, it’s uncertain what the future of this game will look like.

One thing the teams have going for each other is that there’s a trophy on the line. The Bonham Trophy, named and modeled after Alamo battle hero James Bonham, was commissioned in 2013 by former Texas Governor Rick Perry and then South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

If there’s something to play for other than pride, the game should continue to be played.

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Ole Miss

Since the Rebels are in the SEC West, they don’t see the Gamecocks often. They last played in 2020 and before that in 2018.

One thing college football fans love are shootouts. Both offenses have the potential to score a lot in any given game. Depending on how South Carolina’s offense looks under Dowell Loggains, wouldn’t it be fun to see it go up against Lane Kiffin’s high-tempo offense?

South Carolina won’t play Ole Miss during the next two seasons. But when the conference schedule expands, this is a game a lot of fans might want to see played.

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Texas

Everybody will want a crack at the Longhorns when they join the SEC. And how can you blame them? Texas comes in with sky-high expectations and always seemingly falters every year.

South Carolina hasn’t played the Longhorns since 1957 — its lone matchup. The Gamecocks pulled off a 27-21 win in Austin. It feels like both teams are long overdue for another game.

Besides the fascination of playing one of the most historic college football teams, South Carolina could actually match up well with Texas. Both teams are in similar situations, with each winning eight games last year. Not to mention, Beamer and Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian entered their respective schools at the same time.

It could be quite a game in the Longhorns’ first year in the SEC.

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