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South Carolina Football History

Adam Spencer

By Adam Spencer

Last Updated:

South Carolina first fielded a football team all the way back in 1892. Since skipping a year in 1906, the Gamecocks have consistently had a squad on the gridiron each fall.

The Gamecocks have had an interesting history in terms of conference affiliation (or lack thereof). From 1892 to 1921, they were independent. Then, from 1922 to 1952, they were members of the Southern Conference. South Carolina then jumped to the ACC from 1953 to 1970, winning the lone conference championship in program history in 1969.

A 2-decade stretch of independence followed from 1971-1991 before South Carolina finally found its current home in the SEC. The Gamecocks won the SEC East once, back in 2010. They lost to eventual national champion Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.

The program has produced 1 Heisman Trophy winner — George Rogers in 1980. He is 1 of 2 Gamecocks to go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. He was the first pick in 1981, while Jadeveon Clowney was the No. 1 selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Check out the links below to learn more about the history of the South Carolina program:

The Gamecocks also have a few rivalry games that have been played over the years. Click the links below to learn more about South Carolina’s biggest rivals:

  • South Carolina vs. Georgia
  • South Carolina vs. Clemson
  • South Carolina vs. North Carolina
  • South Carolina vs. Tennessee
  • South Carolina vs. Mizzou
Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.

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