9. South Carolina Gamecocks
2024 SEC Record: 5-3
South Carolina was another surprise team in the SEC last season. So much so that they almost snuck into the SEC Championship game and the College Football Playoff.
The Gamecocks have a lot of hype entering this season, but it's unclear if they can have sustained success as a program.
One thing on South Carolina's side this year is that they will play one of the easiest conference schedules in the SEC. But even though they might rack up some wins, that doesn't necessarily mean they are better than the teams who lose a few more games than them. But the Gamecocks will have their chances to prove they are a legit team, and that begins in week one when they take on Virginia Tech in Atlanta.
Week 1 Opponent: Virginia Tech (Atlanta)