South Carolina is ‘Legitimate Playoff Contender,’ ESPN Football Analyst Predicts originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The South Carolina Gamecocks are poised to have a tremendous season that includes, at the very least, reaching the College Football Playoffs, an ESPN football analyst is predicting.

On “Always College Football with George McElroy,” McElroy shared his predictions for national title contenders and tier 2 teams who are at the very least making the playoffs.

He rated the South Carolina Gamecocks in tier 2, which he said includes teams “that I don’t know if they can win the national championship, but I absolutely believe they can make the College Football Playoff and potentially be a factor in the SEC Championship race.”

Part of that confidence is thanks to starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers, McElroy noted.

Sellers was playing “night and day different” from the first week to the game against Clemson, which shows his “confidence was rising on a week-to-week-basis,” he said.

“You could tell the accuracy was getting better from a week-to-week standpoint,” McElroy said.

If Defense Is ‘Comparable’ to Last Year, the Gamecocks Could be a True Contender, He Said

This year, the Gamecocks will likely struggle the most with defense, McElroy predicted. But with the “best edge defender in the entire SEC” in Dylan Stewart, they have a solid chance.

“Can they be comparable to what they were last year? Because if they are, they’re a legitimate playoff contender,” McElroy said.

Last year, he added, the receivers were “a bit of a question mark” and Sellers had to a lot on his own. This year is going to be different.

“Nyck Harbor, hopefully, will reach his potential this year,” McElroy said. “He didn’t run track this offseason, focused exclusively on football. Here’s hoping he can have his best season in a Gamecock uniform here in 2025. I love the development of Mazeo Bennett. I think he has a chance to be a premier slot for LaNorris Sellers.”

The offense has a chance to be one of the best in the SEC, he predicted, which could really change the game for making the playoffs.

“Very tough tough schedule for South Carolina, but I think their offense has a chance to be one of the better groups in the SEC,” McElroy said.

Related: LaNorris Sellers Reveals Why He Turned Down $8 Million Offer to Leave South Carolina

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.