| Mode: | football |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Team: | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Division: | East Division |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Record: | 7–6 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Steve Spurrier |
| Hc Year: | 10th |
| Cooff Coach1: | Steve Spurrier, Jr. |
| Cooc1 Year: | 3rd as Co OC, 10th overall |
| Cooff Coach2: | Shawn Elliott (American football) |
| Cooc2 Year: | 3rd as OC, 5th overall |
| Def Coach: | Lorenzo Ward |
| Dc Year: | 3rd as DC, 6th overall |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Stadium: | Williams-Brice Stadium |
| Champion: | Independence Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Independence Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 24–21 vs. Miami (FL) |
The 2014 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks competed as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of its East Division. The team was led by head coach Steve Spurrier, in his tenth year, and played its home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in fifth place in the East Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl where they defeated Miami (FL).
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For: 8/28/14 (Texas A&M)
The Gamecocks open the 2014 season with a Thursday night matchup against conference foe Texas A&M. It will be the first meeting between the two schools. With kickoff set for 6:00 PM EDT, this game was scheduled to be the first live football game broadcast on the SEC Network.[4] As the first game of the Gamecocks-Aggies cross-division rivalry, the winner of this game will be awarded the new Bonham Trophy, named after Alamo war hero and South Carolina alumnus James Butler Bonham.[5]
See also: 2014 East Carolina Pirates football team.
South Carolina hosts East Carolina for Week 2 of the college football season. The Gamecocks hold a 12-5 all-time series record against the Pirates.[6] South Carolina won the most recent matchup in 2012 by a score of 48–10. It was the first career start for then-backup QB Dylan Thompson, who threw for 330 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in the victory.[7]
See also: 2014 Georgia Bulldogs football team.
The SEC East rival Georgia Bulldogs visit South Carolina on September 13, 2014, to conclude the Gamecocks three-game homestand. Georgia leads the all-time series 48-17-2; however, the Gamecocks have won three of the last four matchups, including a dominating 35–7 victory in the last meeting at Williams-Brice Stadium.[8] The Bulldogs won last year's matchup 41–30 in Athens, Georgia behind a 4 touchdown performance by Aaron Murray.[9]
See also: 2014 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.
South Carolina travels to Vanderbilt for the first road game of the 2014 season. South Carolina holds a 19-4 all-time series record against the Commodores, and has won the last five meetings.[10]
See also: 2014 Missouri Tigers football team.
The Gamecocks host the defending SEC East division champion Missouri Tigers for the 2014 Battle of Columbia. The all-time series record is tied at two wins apiece. South Carolina, however, has won both meetings since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012.[11] Last year's meeting saw Gamecocks QB Connor Shaw lead a 17-point, fourth quarter comeback in Columbia, Missouri to send the game into overtime.[12] The Gamecocks would go on to win in double overtime, becoming the only team to defeat the Tigers in the regular season. The winner of this game receives the Mayors’ Cup Trophy.
See also: 2014 Kentucky Wildcats football team.
South Carolina's second road test of the season takes place in Lexington, Kentucky against SEC East foe Kentucky. South Carolina leads the all-time series 17-7-1.[13] The Gamecocks have won the last three meetings, including last year's 35–28 win at home.[14]
See also: 2014 Furman Paladins football team.
In-state FCS team Furman comes to Columbia in Week 8 with the Gamecocks coming off of a bye week.
See also: 2014 Auburn Tigers football team.
South Carolina visits the defending SEC champion Auburn Tigers on October 25, 2014. Auburn leads the all-time series 9-1-1. Auburn has won all seven matchups since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, including the 2010 SEC Championship Game.[15]
See also: 2014 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
The Gamecocks host SEC East rival Tennessee for the ninth game of the 2014 season. Tennessee leads the all-time series 23-7-2, but South Carolina has won three of the last four meetings.[16] South Carolina will look to avenge last year's matchup in Knoxville, Tennessee when the Volunteers handed the Gamecocks their second and final loss of the 2013 season, made possible by a one-handed catch by WR Marquez North to set up a game-winning field goal.[17] The loss eventually cost South Carolina the SEC Eastern Division title and a trip to the SEC Championship game.
See also: 2014 Florida Gators football team.
South Carolina comes off their second bye week with a trip to Gainesville, Florida to take on the Florida Gators in the final SEC game of the season. The Gators lead the all-time series 24-7-3; however, the Gamecocks have won three of the last four meetings. Four of the Gamecocks’ seven wins against Florida have come since Gator legend Steve Spurrier took over as head coach in 2005.[18] South Carolina's last win in Gainesville took place in 2010 in a game that clinched the Gamecocks’ first SEC East division title.[19]
See also: 2014 South Alabama Jaguars football team.
South Carolina hosts its final home game of the 2014 season against the South Alabama Jaguars. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.
See also: 2014 Clemson Tigers football team.
South Carolina travels to Clemson, South Carolina for the 112th Battle of the Palmetto State. Clemson leads the all-time series 65-42-4; however, South Carolina has controlled the heated rivalry series as of late, winning the last five meetings by an average margin of 16.8 points. The Gamecocks’ five game winning streak is Carolina's longest winning streak in the series. Steve Spurrier is 6–3 against the Tigers since taking over as head coach in 2005.[20] Gamecock QB Dylan Thompson made his second career start in the last matchup at Memorial Stadium, replacing injured QB Connor Shaw. Thompson threw for 249 yards with 1 touchdown in the 35–17 loss to the Tigers.[21]