The University of South Carolina football team released its 2018 schedule this week, an announcement that probably would have generated a lot more excitement had the 2017 Gamecocks not dropped their fourth game in a row to the Kentucky Wildcats last weekend.
Head coach Will Muschamp’s team utterly blew it in front of its largest home crowd in three years. Not only that, the Gamecocks lost their featured offensive weapon, junior wide receiver Deebo Samuel, to a potentially season-ending leg injury.
Can anybody say #ChickenCurse?
Anyway, here is the schedule for what is shaping up to be a make-or-break season for Muschamp …
September 1 vs. COASTAL CAROLINA
September 8 vs. GEORGIA
September 15 vs. MARSHALL
September 22 @ Vanderbilt
September 29 @ Kentucky
October 6 vs. MISSOURI
October 13 vs. TEXAS A&M
October 27 vs. TENNESSEE
November 3 @ Ole Miss
November 10 @ Florida
November 17 vs. CHATTANOOGA
November 24 @ Clemson
It’s an even-numbered year, which means the Gamecocks must face SEC East rivals Tennessee and Georgia at home and Florida and Clemson on the road. Also, next year’s slate sees the Georgia game moved forward to its traditional position on the calendar as South Carolina’s first conference matchup.
Texas A&M remains on the calendar as the Gamecocks regular opponent from the SEC West, while Ole Miss rotates onto the schedule for the first time in nine years. South Carolina is 7-8 all-time against the Rebels, but won its last two games in the series in 2008 and 2009.
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