Carolina opponent preview: South Carolina

Aug. 31, 3:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte (ESPN)

All-time series: UNC 34-19

Head coach: Will Muschamp, fourth season at South Carolina (22-17)

2018 result: 7-6 (4-4 SEC); lost 28-0 to Virginia in Belk Bowl.

SEC preseason poll: Fourth, East.

Key losses: WR Deebo Samuel (second-round pick), CB Rashad Fenton (sixth-round pick), OT Dennis Daley (sixth-round pick).

Key returners: QB Jake Bentley, RB Rico Dowdle, WR Bryan Edwards, WR Shi Smith, DT Javon Kinlaw, DE D.J. Wonnum, LB T.J. Brunson, LB Sherrod Greene, CB Jaycee Horn, CB Israel Mukuamu.

Top newcomers: RB Tavien Feaster (graduate transfer, Clemson) QB Ryan Hilinski, DE Zacch Pickens, DE Joseph Anderson.

Getting to know the Gamecocks, quickly

One of the most brutal schedules ever assembled, with No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Alabama and No. 8 Florida all set to visit Williams-Brice Stadium this season, in addition to road trips to No. 3 Georgia and No. 12 Texas A&M.
Despite having a strong quarterback in Bentley, the Gamecock offense has been middling, largely due to an inability to run the ball. That's likely to change this season with Feaster joining the program as a graduate transfer. Over three seasons at Clemson, Feaster averaged 6 yards per carry and scored 15 touchdowns as a backup. He'll team with Dowdle (123 car., 654 yards, 4 TD) to form a solid duo.
Bentley (240/388, 3,171 yards, 27 TD, 14 INT) is generally efficient, having completed 63 percent of his attempts over three seasons, and he'll have several weapons at his disposal in Edwards (55 rec., 846 yards, 7 TD) and Smith (45 rec., 673 yards, 4 TD). Meanwhile, tight end Kiel Pollard showed some ability as a receiver with 15 catches for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns last season.
Defense has been Muschamp's calling card, but the Gamecocks struggled last season, ranking 84th overall in total defense, 67th in scoring and 95th against the run. That should improve this year with Kinlaw, Brunson and Wonnum back up front and Horn and Mukuamu in the secondary.
Mack Brown and Muschamp will be plenty familiar with the other's style, as Muschamp served as Brown's defensive coordinator at Texas from 2008-10. He was set to interview for the job at Clemson, but chose to stick around at Texas before the Longhorns named him as their coach in waiting. Instead, Muschamp left for the Florida job in 2010. How different could the college football world be if any of those scenarios had changed?

In conclusion...

South Carolina will be a good team this season, and maybe even a great one. Perhaps the greatest team to ever squeak into a bowl game at 7-5. Numbers will never truly tell the story on the Gamecocks this season, because not only will the competition be incredibly tough, but it will also take a physical toll.

A future NFL Draft pick at quarterback with proven options at receiver and two solid running backs isn't an ideal matchup for Carolina out of the gate. Meanwhile the Gamecocks defense certainly has talent, but there are still questions and areas that the Heels could build confidence.

What would a win mean for Carolina?

Return of the Mack, indeed.

Not only would the Heels be getting that "early big game" monkey off their backs, they'd be making a major statement in the regional recruiting landscape and putting the rest of their schedule on notice.

A victory would set the stage for a wild homecoming in Brown's first home game against Miami on Sept. 7, and instantly, expectations for this season would change from a building-block season to becoming a bowl team.

Things would be far less positive in Columbia, where the Gamecocks have no margin for error with one of the nation's toughest schedules.

What would a loss mean for Carolina?

Several more years of bad "The real Carolina" jokes, for starters.

A loss here wouldn't be black and white for Carolina, because based on the past two years, a narrow loss would certainly be a sign of progress.

A steamy afternoon kickoff in August against an SEC program — in front of what will likely be a pro-Gamecocks crowd — is a tough ask for a team with a new coaching staff, a true freshman quarterback and several youngsters in key spots on the depth chart.

The season is underway, the future is bright and the tailgating will be good. If Carolina can hang around and keep it interesting, that should be enough to keep fans from being too upset.

Neat college football thing

With all apologies to Cocky, who is one of the best in the game, HeelsMaven will always be partial to live mascots chillin' in the stadium.

Sir Big Spur, you are a beautiful bird and a neat college football thing.

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