2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football
SEC East Division champion
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 22
APNo. 22
Record9–5 (5–3 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorEllis Johnson (3rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium
(Capacity: 80,250)
Seasons
← 2009
2011 →
2010 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 22 South Carolina x   5 – 3     9 – 5  
Florida   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Georgia   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Tennessee   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Kentucky   2 – 6     6 – 7  
Vanderbilt   1 – 7     2 – 10  
Western Division
No. 1 Auburn x$#   8 – 0     14 – 0  
No. 12 Arkansas %   6 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 8 LSU   6 – 2     11 – 2  
No. 10 Alabama   5 – 3     10 – 3  
No. 15 Mississippi State   4 – 4     9 – 4  
Ole Miss*   1 – 7     4 – 8  
Championship: Auburn 56, South Carolina 17
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ole Miss vacated all wins due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his sixth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina and were members of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks finished the season 9–5, 5–3 in SEC play to win the East Division for the first and only time in program history.

The division championship was made possible by a relatively weakened SEC East[a] and several Gamecocks having successful seasons. Returning quarterback Stephen Garcia had another top-5 season for the school in many statistical categories.[5] Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.[6] Running back Marcus Lattimore, in the only healthy season of his career, was named the National Freshman of the Year.[7][8] The offense and defense were both statistically in the top half of the SEC.[9][10]

Following the season-opening win, the Gamecocks entered the AP Top 25 and would not leave it again until September 2014.[11] In the fourth home game, South Carolina upset defending national champion No. 1 Alabama, which was on a nineteen-game winning streak.[12][13] This was the first and only victory over a top-ranked team in program history.[14] One month later, South Carolina clinched the SEC East by defeating No. 24 Florida in the Swamp for the first time in program history.[15] Spurrier was carried off the field by his players.[16]

In the program's only appearance in the SEC Championship Game, the Gamecocks lost to No. 1 Auburn for the second time that season.[12] Regardless, Spurrier was awarded his seventh and final SEC Coach of the Year Award.[17] They were invited to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, where they were defeated by No. 23 Florida State.[12] South Carolina finished the season ranked for the first time since 2001, and the nine-win season was only the third in program history.[18]

  1. ^ "Southeastern Conference Index". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "2010 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Southeastern Conference Index". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  4. ^ "2010 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Stephen Garcia". University of South Carolina Athletics. June 22, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Alshon Jeffery Named Biletnikoff Finalist". University of South Carolina Athletics. November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "Lattimore named National Freshman of the Year". The State. December 14, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Marcus Lattimore". University of South Carolina Athletics. June 22, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "2010 Southeastern Conference Team Offense". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "2010 Southeastern Conference Team Defense". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "2010 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Alabama Crimson Tide College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "South Carolina football: Here's the Gamecocks' history against No. 1 teams". Saturday Down South. September 15, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "Gamecocks Clinch First SEC East Championship". University of South Carolina Athletics. November 13, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "From Where I Sit: What's the Greatest Gamecock Photo?". University of South Carolina Athletics. August 2, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Man, Gamecock (December 8, 2010). "Steve Spurrier Wins SEC Coach of the Year Award". Garnet And Black Attack. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.


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