A team on Ole Miss's schedule who might end up being better than some people think

Looking at the Ole Miss schedule for 2024, fans will expect a 4-0 start against non-conference teams before they head into conference play. From there, you would look at Georgia and Oklahoma at home, with LSU on the road being the more difficult of the SEC games. However, there is one team the Rebels need to pay attention to.

South Carolina may have underperformed in the 2023 season, going 5-7 and missing out on a bowl game. However, after head coach Shane Beamer delivered an 8-5 season in 2022, the Gamecocks had a tough schedule last season. Five of their seven losses came against ranked opponents at the time, and four of those ended the season in the top 20 of the AP Poll.

Heading into the 2024 season, the talk around the South Carolina program is whether they will do enough to reach six wins. Ole Miss will face the Gamecocks in week 5, with Beamer's team already facing Kentucky and LSU before then. We may have an idea of what team they will be by then, but we should not underestimate South Carolina.

Offense has high upside led by inexperienced QB LaNorris Sellers

The South Carolina offense struggled last season, especially running the ball. That could be their most potent weapon in 2024 if everything clicks. Redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers is a fun prospect, though he offers little experience. A dual-threat QB will always be a danger for teams, but the Gamecocks also brought in a super-talented running back from the transfer portal to help run the ball.

Raheim "Rocket" Sanders transferred in from Arkansas after a rough 2023 plagued by injuries. Head back to 2022 and Sanders was one of the best running backs in the nation. He finished the season with 222 carries for 1,443 rushing yards and ten touchdowns, while also adding 271 receiving yards and two touchdowns. If Sanders can find that form again, this South Carolina offense could build around a dangerous run game.

Talent and experience on the defense could make them a force

The defense returns some notable faces and transfers that, with a step forward, could make it a sleeper in the SEC. Linebacker Debo Williams returns after an impressive 2023 season that saw him rank No.2 in solo tackles in the SEC. Transfer linemen Kyle Kennard and Gilber Edmond bring experience to the defensive front.

The secondary is much better than its performance last season. Per PFF, Gerald Kilgore, the second-highest-rated returning safety in the SEC, is the standout player in the secondary. If this unit starts the 2024 season like it finished the 2023 season, then expect a much tougher defense to pass against.

Ole Miss is on the road against South Carolina in week 5 of the 2024 season. As it stands, it could be flexed to a night game, which would make it more challenging for the Rebels. The Gamecocks are a team I expect to surprise people this season and cause Ole Miss problems.