South Carolina put itself squarely in the Chick-fil-A Bowl equation with its 34-17 rout of No. 15 Clemson on Saturday.
The Gamecocks (7-5, 3-5) haven't played in the Atlanta bowl since 1969 when it was then called the Peach Bowl.
Wherever the Gamecocks go in the postseason, they do so in a much better frame of mind than a year ago when several of the South Carolina upperclassmen had all but mailed it in.
The win over Clemson qualifies as South Carolina's most complete game of the season, especially the way the Gamecocks shut down C.J. Spiller after he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Ellis Johnson's defense has hung in there all season despite a glut of injuries and a lot of youth. To hold Clemson to 260 yards of total offense is a great way to go into bowl practice and the offseason.
It's a defense that should be even better next season when you look at everybody who's eligible to come back.
The Gamecocks went into the Clemson game ranked third in the SEC in total defense, so it's obvious that the future is bright in Columbia.
The Gamecocks (7-5, 3-5) haven't played in the Atlanta bowl since 1969 when it was then called the Peach Bowl.
Wherever the Gamecocks go in the postseason, they do so in a much better frame of mind than a year ago when several of the South Carolina upperclassmen had all but mailed it in.
The win over Clemson qualifies as South Carolina's most complete game of the season, especially the way the Gamecocks shut down C.J. Spiller after he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Ellis Johnson's defense has hung in there all season despite a glut of injuries and a lot of youth. To hold Clemson to 260 yards of total offense is a great way to go into bowl practice and the offseason.
It's a defense that should be even better next season when you look at everybody who's eligible to come back.
The Gamecocks went into the Clemson game ranked third in the SEC in total defense, so it's obvious that the future is bright in Columbia.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
Edward Aschoff
Aschoff joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years covering the University of Florida for The Gainesville Sun. He grew up in Oxford, Miss., before attending UF, graduating with a B.S. in journalism.
SEC SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 12/17
Final Temple 37 Wyoming 15 Final Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Final San Diego State 30 Louisiana-Lafayette 32
Tuesday, 12/20
Wednesday, 12/21
Final 18 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24
Thursday, 12/22
Saturday, 12/24
Final Nevada 17 21 Southern Miss 24
Monday, 12/26
Tuesday, 12/27
Final Western Michigan 32 Purdue 37 Final Louisville 24 North Carolina State 31
Wednesday, 12/28
Final Toledo 42 Air Force 41 Final California 10 24 Texas 21
Thursday, 12/29
Final Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 Final Washington 56 12 Baylor 67
Friday, 12/30
Final Brigham Young 24 Tulsa 21 Final Rutgers 27 Iowa State 13 Final Mississippi State 23 Wake Forest 17 Final Iowa 14 14 Oklahoma 31
Saturday, 12/31
Final Texas A&M 33 Northwestern 22 Final/OT Georgia Tech 27 Utah 30 Final Illinois 20 UCLA 14 Final Cincinnati 31 Vanderbilt 24 Final Virginia 24 25 Auburn 43
Monday, 1/2
Final 19 Houston 30 22 Penn State 14 Final Ohio State 17 Florida 24 Final/3OT 17 Michigan State 33 16 Georgia 30 Final 20 Nebraska 13 9 South Carolina 30 Final 10 Wisconsin 38 5 Oregon 45 Final/OT 4 Stanford 38 3 Oklahoma State 41
Tuesday, 1/3
Final/OT 13 Michigan 23 11 Virginia Tech 20
Wednesday, 1/4
Final 23 West Virginia 70 15 Clemson 33
Friday, 1/6
Final 8 Kansas State 16 6 Arkansas 29
Saturday, 1/7
Sunday, 1/8
Monday, 1/9
SEC TEAM COVERAGE
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