2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football | |
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Gator Bowl, L 38–45 vs. Notre Dame | |
Conference | Southeastern Conference |
East Division | |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 23 |
AP | No. 23 |
Record | 8–5 (4–4 SEC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Marcus Satterfield (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Clayton White (2nd season) |
Base defense | 4–2–5 |
Home stadium | Williams–Brice Stadium |
Uniform | |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Georgia xy$#^ | 8 | – | 0 | 15 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 Tennessee | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 23 South Carolina | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kentucky | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 LSU xy | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 5 Alabama x | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 Mississippi State | 4 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ole Miss | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansas | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas A&M | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Georgia 50, LSU 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season marked the Gamecocks' 129th overall season, and 31st as a member of the SEC East Division. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, and were led by second-year head coach Shane Beamer.
The 2022 Gamecocks squad displayed significant growth under Shane Beamer's leadership in his second year as head coach. Despite inconsistent offensive production and a lackluster rush defense throughout the season, the Gamecocks finished on a high note, posting an 8–5 record and finishing the season ranked at No. 23 in both the Coaches and AP poll.[1]
The Gamecocks' eight wins were the most since 2017.[2] Along the way, they won four consecutive games, won three true road games, defeated archrival Clemson, and finished ranked, all for the first time since 2013. Additionally, they defeated Texas A&M, three top-15 teams, and back-to-back top-ten opponents, all for the first time in program history.[3][4]
The consecutive victories over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson have been described as "two of the biggest upsets in program history".[5] Hosting Tennessee, South Carolina's dominant 63–38 victory set the record for most points scored by an unranked team against a top-five team in college football history.[6] Quarterback Spencer Rattler's six touchdowns broke the school record for most touchdown passes in a single game.[7] South Carolina fans stormed the field for the first time since 2001.[a] At Clemson, South Carolina snapped the Tigers' 40-game home winning streak.[12] It was also the Gamecocks' first win over Clemson since 2013.[13] It was just the seventh time in history that a school had defeated AP top-ten opponents in consecutive weeks as an unranked team, and the first since 2003.[14]
The 2022 special teams have also been considered arguably the greatest Gamecock special teams of all time, earning the No. 1 spot in ESPN's efficiency ranking.[15]
Schedule
[edit]South Carolina and the SEC announced the 2022 football schedule on September 21, 2021.[16][17][18]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Georgia State* | SECN+/ESPN+ | W 35–14 | 78,297 | ||
September 10 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 16 Arkansas | ESPN | L 30–44 | 72,437 | ||
September 17 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia |
| ESPN | L 7–48 | 78,212 | |
September 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Charlotte* |
| ESPNU | W 56–20 | 77,982 | |
September 29 [b] | 7:00 p.m. | South Carolina State* |
| SECN | W 50–10 | 61,551 | |
October 8 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 13 Kentucky | SECN | W 24–14 | 61,612 | ||
October 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Texas A&M |
| SECN | W 30–24 | 77,837 | |
October 29 | 4:00 p.m. | Missouri | No. 25 |
| SECN | L 10–23 | 77,578 |
November 5 | 7:30 p.m. | at Vanderbilt | SECN | W 38–27 | 28,553 | ||
November 12 | 4:00 p.m. | at Florida | SECN | L 6–38 | 89,454 | ||
November 19 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 5 Tennessee |
| ESPN | W 63–38 | 79,041 | |
November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 8 Clemson* | ABC | W 31–30 | 81,500 | ||
December 30 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. No. 21 Notre Dame* | No. 19 | ESPN | L 38–45 | 67,383 | |
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Roster
[edit]2022 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Roster | ||||||||||
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Placekicker
Punter |
Tight end
Offensive lineman
Defensive lineman
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EDGE
Linebacker
Defensive back
Long snappers | ||||||||
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Coaching staff
[edit]Name | Position | Consecutive season |
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Shane Beamer | Head coach | 2nd |
Marcus Satterfield | Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach | 2nd |
Clayton White | Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach | 2nd |
Pete Lembo | Associate head coach/special teams coordinator | 2nd |
Torrian Gray | Defensive backs coach | 2nd |
Montario Hardesty | Running backs coach | 2nd |
Greg Adkins | Offensive line coach | 2nd |
Justin Stepp | Wide receivers coach | 2nd |
Jody Wright | Tight ends coach | 1st |
Sterling Lucas | Outside linebackers coach | 1st |
Jimmy Lindsey | Defensive line coach | 2nd |
Freddie Kitchens | Analyst | 1st |
Rankings
[edit]Week | ||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | 25 | RV | — | — | RV | 20 | 20 | 23 |
Coaches | RV | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | 25 | RV | — | — | RV | 20 | 19 | 23 |
CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | 19 | 19 | Not released |
Statistics and highlights
[edit]The University of South Carolina and others have published many highlights from the Gamecocks' 2022 football season.[21][22][23][24][25]
- The 8–5 overall record and 4–4 SEC record were both one-game improvements over the 2021 season
- Predicted by the media to finish 5th in the SEC East, but finished 3rd
- Only the fifteenth season of 8+ wins in school history, and first since 2017
- Ranked 23rd in the country in both the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ polls
- Only the tenth season to finish ranked in the AP poll in school history, and first since 2013
- First wins over back-to-back top-10 teams in school history
- Only the seventh time in history a school has defeated top-10 opponents in consecutive weeks as an unranked team, and first since 2003
- Only the sixth season in school history to beat three ranked teams, and first since 2013
- First season in school history to beat three top-15 teams
- Beat Texas A&M for the first time in nine tries
- Won at Kentucky for the first time since 2012
- Defeated Clemson for the first time since 2013
- Won three true road games for the first time since 2013
- Had a four-game winning streak for the first time since 2013
- Defeated top-5 opponent at home for the first time since 2012
- Yards of offense and points against Tennessee were both the most by an unranked team against an AP top-5 opponent in the poll era
- Selected as the FWAA's National Team of the Week after the win against Tennessee, winning the honor for only the fifth time since 2002
- Snapped Clemson's 40-game home winning streak
- The Gator Bowl was the highest rated non-New Year’s Six bowl game of the season
- The Tennessee game and Gator Bowl were the fifth-highest and sixth-highest rated Gamecock football games of the last ten seasons
- Sold out all six Saturday home games
- Averaged 75,785 in attendance for seven home contests, which ranked 16th in the country
- Entered the AP Poll rankings for the first time since 2018, and entered the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time since 2017
- Reached highest ranking in AP Poll since 2014
- Reached highest College Football Playoff ranking in program history
- Won four of their five non-conference games, improving their record to 40–13 in their last 53 non-conference games
- Used 42 different starters, including 20 on offense and 22 on defense
- Averaged 32.2 points per game, which ranked 39th in the country and was nearly a 10-points per game increase over the 2021 campaign, when they averaged 22.6 points per game
- Scored 30+ points in nine games for the first time in school history
- Ranked 27th in the country in pass efficiency defense and 34th in passing defense
- Forced 23 turnovers, which ranked second in the SEC and 20th in the country
- Made fifteen interceptions, which ranked first in the SEC and 14th in the nation
- Had the nation’s top-ranked special teams unit, earning the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s special teams efficiency ranking
- Ranked tied for second in the country in blocked punts, third in blocked kicks, fourth in punt returns, fifth in kickoff returns, seventh in net punting, 23rd in opponent kickoff returns and 27th in opponent punt returns
- Perfect in field goal attempts at 11-for-11, only the second season in school history to do so with a minimum of ten attempts, after 1980
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ The Greenville News reported that the last field storming at Williams–Brice was South Carolina's upset over Alabama in 2010.[8][9] However, the SEC officially said that South Carolina has had only two "access to competition area" violations since fines began in 2004: a men's basketball game against Kentucky in 2014, and the football game against Tennessee in 2022.[10] In 2016, Saturday Down South reported that South Carolina's last field storming was in 2001.[11]
- ^ The South Carolina State game was moved up by two days due to Hurricane Ian.[19]
- ^ "South Carolina football finishes ranked in AP Top 25 poll for first time since 2013". The Greenville News. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina 2022 Football Season Highlights". University of South Carolina Athletics. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Cloninger, David (October 23, 2022). "Gamecocks crash into Top 25 with 4-game win streak, victory over Texas A&M". Post and Courier. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer's salary more than doubles in 2023 as contract extension set". Yahoo Sports. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "AP Top 25: Tennessee drops four spots to No. 9 after blowout loss to South Carolina". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ Summers, Mitchel. "Rattler throws 6 touchdowns as Gamecocks stun No. 5 Tennessee 63-38". www.foxcarolina.com. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ "'Truly unstoppable:' How South Carolina football will remember field storming vs Tennessee". Greenville Online. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina football fined $100,000 by SEC for fans storming field after beating Tennessee". Greenville Online. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina, Vandy fined for SEC Policy violations". www.secsports.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "The last time every SEC team rushed the field". Saturday Down South. August 26, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Priester, J. P. (November 26, 2022). "Gamecocks Take Down Clemson, Snapping Seven Game Losing Streak to Tigers". Sports Illustrated Clemson Tigers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Winsipedia - Clemson Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina 2022 Football Season Highlights". University of South Carolina Athletics. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Pete Lembo Named UB Football Head Coach". University at Buffalo. January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Cory Diaz (September 22, 2021). "What to know about South Carolina football's 2022 schedule". The Greenville News. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Reggie Anderson (September 21, 2021). "The SEC releases the 2022 football schedules". WLTX. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2022 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedule". ThePalmettoBowl.com.
- ^ Scarborough, Alex (September 27, 2022). "South Carolina football moves up game to Thursday because of threat of Hurricane Ian". ESPN (Press release). Retrieved September 27, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Football Roster". Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ "South Carolina 2022 Football Season Highlights". University of South Carolina Athletics. January 19, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Shane Beamer Named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week". University of South Carolina Athletics. November 21, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "AP Top 25: Tennessee drops four spots to No. 9 after blowout loss to South Carolina". Yahoo Sports. November 20, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ dcloninger@postandcourier.com, David Cloninger (October 23, 2022). "Gamecocks crash into Top 25 with 4-game win streak, victory over Texas A&M". Post and Courier. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024.