Five stats that tell the story of the Gamecocks’ 3-2 start in 2024

South Carolina has been one of the most puzzling teams in college football this season.

They kicked things off with a hard-fought, four-point win over Old Dominion, raising questions about their potential, only to follow it with a dominating victory against SEC rival Kentucky that seemed to erase any doubts. An impressive showing in a loss to LSU and a commanding win against Akron had momentum building for the Gamecocks — until a blowout home loss to Ole Miss brought them crashing back to Earth.

As we approach the halfway point of the season, wins and losses tell part of the story, but the numbers behind them reveal even more. Let’s dive into five key stats that define the Gamecocks’ roller-coaster start.

No. 1: Penalties

The Gamecocks have been their own worst enemy at times, repeatedly getting bogged down by penalties. They currently lead the SEC in penalties, averaging over eight per game.

Whether it’s offsides on crucial third downs, offensive pass interference or the notorious taunting call, these mistakes all add up — costing the team yards, momentum and probably even the hair of head coach Shane Beamer and his staff.

It can be argued that the LSU game was lost due to penalties. If that’s the case, South Carolina’s 3-2 start could be 4-1, which feels drastically different for a one-game difference.

In fact, you could go as far as to say the Gamecocks could be flirting with being ranked right now, even after the loss to Ole Miss, if not for penalties.

No. 2: Rushing yards

The ground game was expected to be the Gamecocks’ bread and butter, and for the most part, it has been. They rank second in the SEC in rush attempts with nearly 46 carries per game, racking up over 184 yards per contest.

But a closer look reveals a lack of explosive plays. South Carolina is fifth-worst in the conference in yards per carry, managing just over four yards per rush.

Feature back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders was projected by many to potentially return to his level of productivity in 2022 when he played at Arkansas. After a slow start by those standards, he showed glimpses of that level of play with 143 yards and two touchdowns against LSU.

After an injury against Akron, he didn’t start against Ole Miss last week and only had eight carries in a supporting role.

Whether Sanders can return to his old form has yet to be seen, but the USC run game might depend on it.

No. 3: Sacks allowed

When it comes to protecting the quarterback, no team has struggled more than South Carolina. The Gamecocks have allowed a nation-worst 22 sacks through five games.

Not much has worked for USC with pass protection. Last week, Beamer tried to mix up the game plan surrounding Sellers’ protection, setting up double teams, and also set up some plays for him to get the ball out quicker.

Ole Miss still had six sacks.

Even with the run game working “fairly successfully,” according to Beamer, it’s hard to sustain an offense when your quarterback is constantly under siege.

No. 4: Third Downs

Speaking of sustaining drives, the Gamecocks have only converted on 30% of their third down attempts, second-worst in the SEC. For the offense to click, they’ll need more consistent success on third downs.

No. 5: Turnovers

Turnovers have both plagued and upheld South Carolina this season. The Gamecocks have forced 10 turnovers this season (four fumbles and six interceptions), which is second in the SEC.

But they give away just as many. They’ve also turned it over eight times this year, which is third-worst in the conference as well.

Even with their ability to get takeaways, in order to really take the next step, they need to keep from handing the ball right back. The give-and-take approach isn’t doing them many favors.

SOUTH CAROLINA VS. ALABAMA

Who: South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC) vs. Alabama (4-1, 1-1 SEC)

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

When: Noon Saturday

TV: ABC

Line: Alabama by 21