# 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the Eastern 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, the team was noted by the media for being heavily affected by injuries. South Carolina finished sixth in the final SEC East, with an overall record of 5–7, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2020.
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team drew an average home attendance of 77,833 in 2023, the 16th highest in college football.

## Schedule

Prior to the season, several sports websites named South Carolina as having the most difficult schedule in the country in 2023.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 21 North Carolina* | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Duke's Mayo Classic, rivalry, College GameDay) | ABC | L 17–31 | 68,723 |
| September 9 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 6 Furman* (FCS) | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | SECN+/ESPN+ | W 47–21 | 78,281 |
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Georgia | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA (rivalry) | CBS | L 14–24 | 92,746 |
| September 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Mississippi State | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | SECN | W 37–30 | 78,311 |
| September 30 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 21 Tennessee | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | L 20–41 | 101,915 |
| October 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Florida | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | SECN | L 39–41 | 79,247 |
| October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 20 Missouri | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO (Mayor's Cup) | SECN | L 12–34 | 62,621 |
| October 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Texas A&M | Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX | ESPN | L 17–30 | 95,297 |
| November 4 | 12:00 p.m. | Jacksonville State* | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | ESPNU | W 38–28 | 75,348 |
| November 11 | 12:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | SECN | W 47–6 | 75,682 |
| November 18 | 7:30 p.m | Kentucky | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | SECN | W 17–14 | 77,788 |
| November 25 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 24 Clemson* | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC (Palmetto Bowl) | SECN | L 7–16 | 80,172 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, from the date when issued) – Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 North Carolina | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Clear • 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: NE 3 MPH
* Game attendance: 68,723
* Referee: Jeff Heaser
* TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), Molly McGrath (sideline)
| 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 | Drake Maye | 24/32, 269 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | British Brooks | 15 carries, 103 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Kobe Paysour | 7 receptions, 66 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 30/39, 353 yards |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Dakereon Joyner | 12 carries, 23 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 9 receptions, 178 yards |

### vs No. 6 Furman (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Furman (FCS) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 47 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: SE 5 mph
* Game attendance: 78,281
* Referee: Kyle Olson
* TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): John Schriffen (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (color), Dawn Davenport (Sideline)
| 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 |
| Furman | Rushing | Jayquan Smith | 8 carries, 30 yards |
| Furman | Receiving | Joshua Harris | 6 receptions, 73 yards |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 25/27, 345 yards, 3 TD |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Dakereon Joyner | 11 carries, 42 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 6 receptions, 118 yards, TD |

### at No. 1 Georgia (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| No. 1 Georgia | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia
* Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • 69 °F (21 °C) • Wind: SE 5 MPH
* Game attendance: 92,756
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color) and Jenny Dell (sideline)
| 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 |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Spencer Rattler | 8 carries, 35 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | O'Mega Blake | 5 receptions, 86 yards |
| Georgia | Passing | Carson Beck | 27/35, 269 yards |
| Georgia | Rushing | Daijun Edwards | 20 carries, 118 yards, TD |
| Georgia | Receiving | Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint | 6 receptions, 71 yards |

### vs Mississippi State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 37 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 78,311
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| 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 | Will Rogers | 30/48, 487 yards, TD, INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 12 carries, 27 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Lideatrick Griffin | 7 receptions, 256 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 18/20, 288 yards, 3 TD |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 26 carries, 88 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 5 receptions, 189 yards, 2 TD |

### at No. 21 Tennessee (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 10 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| No. 21 Tennessee | 14 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 41 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 83 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Daniel Gatreaux
* TV announcers (SEC Network): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| 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 |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 10 carries, 101 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Trey Knox | 7 receptions, 51 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 21/32, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 16 carries, 123 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 9 receptions, 104 yards |

### vs Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida | 10 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 41 |
| South Carolina | 14 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 39 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: W at 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) • Weather: sunny
* Game attendance: 79,247
* Referee: Steve Marlowe
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
| 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 |
| Florida | Rushing | Montrell Johnson Jr. | 11 carries, 50 yards |
| Florida | Receiving | Ricky Pearsall | 10 receptions, 166 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 23/30, 313 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 20 carries, 98 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 5 receptions, 110 yards |

### at No. 20 Missouri (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| No. 20 Missouri | 14 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
at Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri
* Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: – Sunny, 78 degrees, 10 mph NW winds
* Game attendance: 62,621
* Referee: Kyle Olson
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
* Pregame line: MIZ −7.5 Over/Under: 57.5
| 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 |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 12 carries, 68 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Nyck Harbor | 2 receptions, 50 yards |
| Missouri | Passing | Brady Cook | 15–25, 205 yards, 1 TD |
| Missouri | Rushing | Cody Schrader | 26 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | Luther Burden III | 5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD |

### at Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 30 |
at Kyle Field • College Station, Texas
* Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind: S 10.3 MPH
* Game attendance: 95,297
* Referee: Scott Walker
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones, Louis Riddick, and Quint Kessenich
| 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 |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 16 rushes, 72 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Nyck Harbor | 6 receptions, 59 yards |
| Texas A&M | Passing | Max Johnson | 20/30, 249 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | Amari Daniels | 13 rushes, 68 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | Ainias Smith | 6 receptions, 118 yards, TD |

### vs Jacksonville State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jacksonville State | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| South Carolina | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 PM EST
* Game weather: Clear • 61 °F (16 °C) • Wind: N 3.6 MPH
* Game attendance: 75,348
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Brian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), Lauren Sisler (sideline)
| 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 | Zion Webb | 12/23, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Ron Wiggins | 17 carries, 88 yards |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Perry Carter | 5 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 27/38, 399 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 16 carries, 75 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 9 receptions, 217 yards, 2 TD |

### vs Vanderbilt

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| South Carolina | 6 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 47 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Rainy • 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: NE 6.5 MPH
* Game attendance: 75,682
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
| 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 | Ken Seals | 13–28, 103 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Walter Taylor | 6 carries, 39 yards |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | London Humphreys | 3 receptions, 33 yards |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 28–36, 351 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 9 carries, 102 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 9 receptions, 120 yards |

### vs Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kentucky | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| South Carolina | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: –
* Game attendance: 77,788
* Referee: –
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| 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 | Devin Leary | 17/34, 171 yards, TD, INT |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Ray Davis | 12 carries, 61 yards, TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Dane Key | 4 receptions, 51 yards |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 19/27, 207 yards, 2 TD |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 13 carries, 27 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 6 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD |

### vs No. 24 Clemson (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Clemson | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 25, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: 48 °F (9 °C) • Wind: NE @ 3 mph (4.8 km/h) • Weather: Clear
* Game attendance: 80,172
* Referee: Jeff Flanagan
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
| 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 | Cade Klubnik | 15/27, 100 yards, INT |
| Clemson | Rushing | Phil Mafah | 19 rushes, 89 yards |
| Clemson | Receiving | Tyler Brown | 5 receptions, 40 yards |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 16/32, 112 yards, INT |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 13 rushes, 35 yards |
| South Carolina | 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.
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.
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.”

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | — | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |