Shane Beamer's South Carolina football team has been making waves with its recent performances. Currently standing at 7-3 (and 5-3 in conference play), the Gamecocks have won four games in a row and achieved a winning record in SEC play for the first time since 2017. This remarkable streak has not only boosted the team's confidence but also improved the national perception around them.

Gamecocks' Recent Wins and Records

The most recent win by the Gamecocks was a wild affair that ended with a Rocket Sanders touchdown and a subsequent celebration that registered as an earthquake on seismographs. This victory finally broke a five-game losing streak in the Mayor's Cup and saw the team emerge victorious. The win streak, which includes three straight ranked wins, has been a turning point for the team.The national perception of South Carolina is on the rise, and this is reflected in the bowl season projections. ESPN's Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura both picked the Reliquest Bowl (formerly the Outback Bowl) as the Gamecocks' winter destination. However, their predicted opponents have changed this week. Schlabach now thinks the Gamecocks will play Iowa, while Bonagura foresaw a meeting with Illinois. South Carolina has never played Illinois before but has faced Iowa once previously.CBS analyst Jerry Palm, who was late to recognize South Carolina as a bowl team, now projects USC to play against the Louisville Cardinals in the Gator Bowl. The Gamecocks have a history of playing in the Gator Bowl, with their most recent trip resulting in a 2022 loss to Notre Dame. They also lost three times in the 1980s. Despite being old Metro Conference rivals in basketball, South Carolina and Louisville have never met on the football field.Steve Lassan of The Athletic projected the Gamecocks to the Reliquest Bowl. The Tampa-based postseason contest has hosted USC five times before. In his view, the 2024 South Carolina football squad will face the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Reliaquest Bowl. Although Carolina is 4-1 in previous Reliaquest/Outback Bowls, their only loss in the game came to Iowa in 2008.Brett McMurphy of the Action Network also believes South Carolina will end up in Tampa playing the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Reliaquest Bowl.

Upcoming In-State Battle

Now with seven wins and likely at least one more remaining, South Carolina football fans are excited about their team's bowl prospects. Next up for the Gamecocks is an in-state battle against the FCS Wofford Terriers. The Terriers will make the drive down I-26 to Columbia for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff. ESPN+ and SEC Network+ will stream the game as it is not available on traditional television. This is another opportunity for the Gamecocks to showcase their skills and build on their winning momentum.The South Carolina football team has come a long way this season, and with each win, their chances of a successful bowl game and even a potential College Football Playoff berth are improving. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the team's story.