COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Shane Beamer and the 13th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks are hoping to parlay momentum from last season's strong finish into a breakthrough 2025 campaign.

The Gamecocks won their final six games last year before losing to Illinois 21-17 in the Citrus Bowl to finish 9-4 after barely missing out on the College Football Playoff. This year marks the first time South Carolina has been ranked in preseason AP Top 25 since 2014, when they debuted at No. 9.

That brings added pressure to the Gamecocks, who'll look to navigate a brutal schedule that includes six games against Top 25 teams: Clemson (No. 4), Alabama (8), LSU (9), Oklahoma (18), Texas A&M (19) and Ole Miss (21).

Beamer, who is 29-22 in four years at South Carolina and 15-17 against conference foes, said it is a

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