Where South Carolina sits in inaugural 2023 SP+ rankings
It’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s South Carolina football team, and ESPN agrees.
The worldwide leader and Bill Connelly released its first SP+ rankings for the 2023 season.
The rankings slot every FBS program and it’s a good gauge of where each team falls in the grand scheme of football. The Gamecocks, as they enter 2023, sit on the outside looking in of the top 25 after signing day.
[Win a mini helmet autographed by Spencer Rattler]
Connelly’s system ranks South Carolina No. 33 overall with an 11.9 overall rating. South Carolina ranks No. 20 offensively–largely in part of returning production–and No. 61 on defense.
The SP+ gives South Carolina’s offense a 38.1 grade and a 26.2 grade defensively.
The Gamecocks rank No. 13 overall in the SEC, ahead of Vanderbilt, but are just 0.02 points behind Missouri and 1.1 behind Arkansas.
Offensively, SP+ ranks South Carolina seventh in the SEC behind Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Arkansas and Ole Miss. The SP+ ranks the Gamecocks’ defense No. 13 in the SEC ahead of Vanderbilt.
Arkansas is just one spot ahead at No. 60 with no other team ranked lower than 35 in defense.
[Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99!]
South Carolina is also scheduled to play four of the top seven SEC teams this season and six top 25 teams: Georgia (1), Tennessee (6), Texas A&M (17), Florida (20), Mississippi State (23) and Kentucky (24).
Clemson debuted at No. 12 in the SP+ rankings (No. 28 offense, No. 12 defense). North Carolina comes in at No. 28 (13 offense, 62 defense) while Jacksonville State sits at No. 126 nationally.
The algorithm has three primary factors, each weighted by their predictiveness over the course of a season.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
The first is recruiting production followed by recent recruiting and then recent history. The Gamecocks do return a good chunk of production offensively–especially at quarterback and receiver–but are replacing a ton of starts on the offensive line, running back and at tight end.
[Become an NIL supporter of your South Carolina Gamecocks!]
The defense has to replace a lot based on NFL entrants, graduation or defections to the transfer portal.
South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class ranks No. 16 overall and the seventh-best in the SEC. Nyck Harbor headlines it along with 11 other blue-chip prospects.
The Gamecocks are in a pivotal offseason, coming off an eight-win regular season that saw them upset Tennessee and Clemson to end the season.
Dowell Loggains takes over as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator after two years of Marcus Satterfield but will have pieces to work with. Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells each return after finishing the season off strong.
The Gamecocks open their season Sept. 2 against North Carolina in Bank of America Stadium.
