The 2020 South Carolina Gamecocks football team (variously South Carolina, USC, SC, or The Gamecocks) represented the University of South Carolina in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Gamecocks' 127th overall season, and 29th 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 head coach Will Muschamp until his firing on November 15. Mike Bobo, the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Carolina played a ten-game all-conference schedule in 2020. The Gamecocks did not play their archrival Clemson for the first time since 1908. Home games were extremely regulated, limited to approximately 15,000 season ticket holders and a small number of other spectators, all required to wear masks. The Gamecocks compiled a 2–8 record, their fourth losing season in six years. The team accepted a bid to the Gasparilla Bowl, as the NCAA had waived bowl eligibility requirements for the season. The Gamecocks were slated to play UAB, but had to withdraw on December 22 due to COVID-19 issues within the program.
Preseason
2020 recruiting class
Offseason departures 2020 South Carolina offseason departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Javon Kinlaw #3 DT 6'5 319 Senior Goose Creek, SC Declared for 2020 NFL draft Bryan Edwards #89 WR 6'3 212 Senior Conway, SC Declared for 2020 NFL draft D. J. Wonnum #8 DE 6'5 260 Senior Stone Mountain, GA Declared for 2020 NFL draft T. J. Brunson #6 LB 6'1 229 Senior Columbia, SC Declared for 2020 NFL draft Rico Dowdle #5 HB 5'11 213 Senior Asheville, NC Graduated Tavien Feaster #4 HB 6'0 221 Senior Spartanburg, SC Graduated Kyle Markway #84 TE 6'4 250 RS Senior St. Louis, MO Graduated Donell Stanley #72 OL 6'3 322 RS Senior Floydale, SC Graduated Joseph Charlton #20 P 6'5 190 RS Senior Columbia, SC Graduated Mon Denson #34 HB 5'10 215 RS Senior LaGrange, GA Graduated Kobe Smith #95 DL 6'2 300 Senior Lawrenceville, GA Graduated Daniel Fennell #35 DL 6'2 255 RS Senior Loganville, GA Graduated Chavis Dawkins #83 WR 6'2 225 Senior Duncan, SC Graduated
SEC Media Days In the preseason media poll, South Carolina was predicted to finish in fifth place in the East Division.
Media poll (East Division) 1 Florida 624 (53) 2 Georgia 613 (43) 3 Tennessee 434 4 Kentucky 405 5 South Carolina 287 6 Missouri 224 7 Vanderbilt 101
Personnel
Coaching staff NamePositionConsecutive seasonWill MuschampHead coach (first seven games) 5th Mike Bobo Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, interim head coach (final three games) 1st Travaris Robinson Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach 5th Tracy Rocker Defensive line coach 1st Bobby Bentley Tight ends coach 5th Joe Cox Wide receivers coach 1st Eric Wolford Offensive line coach 4th Connor Shaw Director of Player Development and quarterbacks coach (final three games) 1st Rod Wilson Linebackers coach 1st Mike Peterson Outside linebackers coach 4th Desmond Kitchings Running backs coach 1st Kyle Krantz Special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach 3rd Paul Jackson Director of Football Strength and Conditioning 1st Drew Hughes Director of Player Personnel 1st
Roster 2020 South Carolina Gamecocks Football RosterQuarterback 3 Ryan Hilinski – sophomore (6'3, 225) 4 Luke Doty – freshman (6'1, 210) 10 Jay Urich – junior (6'5, 215) 15 Collin Hill – graduate (6'4, 222) 18 Connor Jordan – freshman (6'3, 205)
Running back 1 MarShawn Lloyd - Freshman (5'9, 210) 11 Zaquandre White – junior (6'1, 200) 14 Deshaun Fenwick – sophomore (6'1, 220) 20 Kevin Harris – sophomore (5'10, 225) 22 Bruce Staley – freshman (5'9, 200) 25 Rashad Amos – freshman (6'2, 215) 33 Slade Carroll – senior (5'9, 205)
Fullback 32 Bradley Dunn – freshman (5'9, 222) 46 Adam Prentice – graduate (6'0, 245) 48 Sean McGonigal – junior (6'1, 240)
Wide receiver 5 Dakereon Joyner – sophomore (6'1, 202) 6 Josh Vann – junior (5'10, 190) 8 Randrecous Davis – senior (5'10, 190) 13 Shi Smith – senior (5'10, 190) 16 Trey Adkins – sophomore (5'11, 178) 17 Xavier Legette – sophomore (6'0, 210) 18 OrTre Smith – junior (6'4, 222) 19 Ben Rollins – freshman (5'8, 160) 26 Elisha Brooks – freshman (6'0, 185) 27 Payton Mangrum – freshman (6'0, 188) 28 Deon Eaddy – freshman (6'2, 190) 29 Brandon Edwards – freshman (6'0, 200) 81 Jalen Brooks – junior (6'3, 190) 84 Rico Powers – freshman (6'2, 195) 86 Chad Terrell – sophomore (6'3, 215) 87 Mike Wyman – freshman (6'2, 200) 89 Ger-Cari Caldwell – freshman (6'5, 205)
Placekicker 43 Parker White – senior (6'5, 195) 45 Alex Herrera – freshman (5'9, 182) 47 Cole Hanna – senior (5'7, 180) 98 Mitch Jeter – freshman (5'10, 190) Punter 36 Christian Kinsley – senior (6'2, 220) 39 Kai Kroeger – freshman (6'3, 195) Tight end 9 Nick Muse – senior (6'4, 250) 12 Traveon Kenion – freshman (6'3, 240) 23 Jaheim Bell – freshman (6'2, 230) 35 Eric Shaw – freshman (6'4, 220) 80 Keveon Mullins – freshman (6'1, 245) 82 KeShawn Toney – freshman (6'2, 248) 83 Patrick Reedy – sophomore (6'7, 265) 88 Will Register – junior (6'4, 245) 90 Jessie Sanders – freshman (6'3, 235) 91 Dawson Coleman – freshman (6'5, 215)
Offensive Lineman 50 Sadarius Hutcherson – senior (6'4, 320) 52 Jaylen Nichols – sophomore (6'5, 315) 54 Jovaughn Gwyn – sophomore (6'2, 295) 55 Jakai Moore – freshman (6'5, 305) 57 Will Rogers – freshman (6'3, 305) 58 Mark Fox – freshman (6'4, 297) 62 Tyshon Wannamaker – freshman (6'3, 335) 65 Chuck Strickland – freshman (6'1, 254) 66 Dylan Seabuck – freshman (6'4, 310) 67 Gavin Bennett – freshman (6'3, 290) 68 Wyatt Campbell – sophomore (6'6, 305) 70 Hank Manos – sophomore (6'4, 305) 71 Eric Douglas – junior (6'4, 315) 72 Trai Jones – freshman (6'2, 300) 73 James Reedy – freshman (6'4, 315) 74 Vincent Murphy – freshman (6'2, 300) 75 Jazton Turnetine – junior (6'7, 330) 76 Jordan Rhodes – junior (6'4, 325) 77 Vershon Lee Freshman (6'3, 313) 79 Dylan Wonnum – junior (6'5, 310)
Defensive Lineman 5 Keir Thomas – senior (6'2, 275) 6 Zacch Pickens – sophomore (6'3, 300) 15 Aaron Sterling – senior (6'1, 245) 31 Chandler Farrell – senior (6'3, 278) 52 Kingsley Enagbare – junior (6'4, 270) 90 Rick Sandidge – junior (6'5, 295) 92 Tyreek Johnson – sophomore (6'3, 265) 93 Joseph Anderson – freshman (6'3, 275) 94 M.J. Webb – junior (6'3, 295) 95 Alex Huntley – freshman (6'4, 295) 96 Makius Scott – freshman (6'4, 305) 97 Devontae Davis – junior (6'3, 290) 99 Jabari Ellis – senior (6'3, 285) BUCK 3 Jordan Burch – freshman (6'6, 275) 16 Rodricus Fitten – freshman (6'1, 255) 19 Brad Johnson – junior (6'2, 235) 55 Gilber Edmond – freshman (6'5, 230) 91 Tonka Hemingway – freshman (6'3, 265)
Linebacker 8 Jahmar Brown – sophomore (6'1, 215) 30 Damani Staley – senior (6'0, 235) 32 Mohamed Kaba – freshman (6'2, 227) 41 Darryle Ware – freshman (6'1, 225) 42 Rosendo Louis Jr. – sophomore (6'2, 245) 44 Sherrod Greene – senior (6'1, 230) 45 Spencer Eason-Riddle – senior (6'0, 225) 46 Noah Vincent – sophomore (6'1, 210) 53 Ernest Jones – junior (6'2, 230)
Defensive back 1 Jaycee Horn – junior (6'1, 205) 4 Jaylin Dickerson – junior (6'1, 195) 7 Jammie Robinson – sophomore (5'11, 195) 9 Cam Smith – freshman (6'0, 185) 10 R.J. Roderick – junior (6'0, 205) 11 Dominick Hill – freshman (6'0, 195) 14 Joey Hunter – freshman (6'0, 200) 21 Shilo Sanders – freshman (6'0, 195) 22 John Dixon – sophomore (6'0, 185) 23 Fabian Goodman – freshman (5'10, 170) 24 Israel Mukuamu – junior (6'4, 205) 25 O'Donnell Fortune – freshman (6'1, 175) 26 Landon Grier – freshman (5'9, 175) 27 Jaylan Foster – senior (5'10, 190) 28 Darius Rush – sophomore (6'2, 190) 31 McKay Melnick – freshman (5'9, 185)
Long snappers 59 Matthew Bailey – freshman (6'1, 200)
Defensive Specialists 49 Matthew Bailey – freshman (6'1, 198) 78 Hunter Rogers – freshman (6'1, 185) Depth chart
Schedule South Carolina had games scheduled against Clemson, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, and Wofford, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first season since 1908 that the Gamecocks did not play Clemson.
As part of their penalty for NCAA violations, Tennessee has retroactively vacated its 2020 victory over South Carolina. However, the penalty to vacate victories does not result in a loss (or forfeiture) of the affected game or award a victory to the opponent, therefore South Carolina still considers the game a loss in their official records.
Game summaries
Tennessee
Statistics TENNSC First downs 21 22 Total yards 394 379 Rushes/yards 33–133 35–89 Passing yards 261 290 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–32–0 25–39–1 Time of possession 25:10 34:50 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Jarrett Guarantano 19–31, 259 yards, 1 TD Rushing Ty Chandler 13 rushes, 86 yards, 0 TD Receiving Josh Palmer 6 catches, 85 yards, 1 TDSouth Carolina Passing Collin Hill 25–39, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kevin Harris 13 rushes, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Shi Smith 10 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD
At Florida
Statistics SCFLA First downs 25 18 Total yards 329 348 Rushes/yards 36–117 24–80 Passing yards 212 268 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–47–0 21–29–1 Time of possession 36:23 23:37 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina Passing Collin Hill 28–47, 212 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kevin Harris 22 rushes, 100 yards, 1 TD Receiving Shi Smith 12 catches, 85 yards, 1 TDFlorida Passing Kyle Trask 21–29, 268 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Dameon Pierce 9 rushes, 51 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kadarius Toney 6 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD
At Vanderbilt
Statistics SCVAN First downs 18 15 Total yards 485 249 Rushes/yards 39–289 33–76 Passing yards 196 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–24–0 18–27–1 Time of possession 31:27 28:33 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina Passing Collin Hill 16–24, 196 yards, 0 TD Rushing Kevin Harris 21 rushes, 177 yards, 2 TD Receiving Nick Muse 5 catches, 85 yards, 0 TDVanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 17–24, 148 yards, 1 TD Rushing Keyon Henry–Brooks 13 rushes, 75 yards, 0 TD Receiving Amir Abdur–Rahman 2 catches, 46 yards, 0 TD
Auburn
Statistics AUSC First downs 27 20 Total yards 481 297 Rushes/yards 36–289 43–183 Passing yards 272 144 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–47–3 15–24–1 Time of possession 28:43 31:17 Team Category Player StatisticsAuburn Passing Bo Nix 24–47, 272 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT Rushing Tank Bigsby 16 rushes, 111 yards, 1 TD Receiving Seth Williams 4 catches, 74 yards, 0 TDSouth Carolina Passing Collin Hill 15–24, 144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kevin Harris 25 rushes, 185 yards, 2 TD Receiving Shi Smith 8 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD
At LSU
Statistics SCLSU First downs 17 29 Total yards 403 541 Rushes/yards 29-169 54-276 Passing yards 234 265 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12-22-1 17–21–1 Time of possession 22:26 37:34 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina Passing Collin Hill 12–22, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kevin Harris 12 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD Receiving Keveon Mullins 2 receptions, 101 yardsLSU Passing T. J. Finley 17–21, 265 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tyrion Davis-Price 22 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD Receiving Terrace Marshall Jr. 6 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD
Texas A&M
Statistics TA&MSC First downs 26 9 Total yards 530 150 Rushes/yards 45/264 25/50 Passing yards 266 100 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17-27-0 12–28–2 Time of possession 38:21 21:39 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M Passing Kellen Mond 16–26, 224 yards, 4 TD Rushing Isaiah Spiller 18 carries, 131 yards Receiving De’Von Achane 2 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TDSouth Carolina Passing Collin Hill 8-21, 66 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kevin Harris 13 carries, 39 yards Receiving Shi Smith 7 receptions, 64 yards
At Ole Miss
Statistics SCMS First downs 27 31 Total yards 548 708 Rushes/yards 39/318 48/195 Passing yards 230 513 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17-29-1 28-32-0 Time of possession 29:19 30:41