South Carolina has the second-most passing yards in the SEC and its quarterback leads the conference in individual yards through the air.
That's all well and good, but all the Gamecocks have to show for it is a .500 record and the opportunity to qualify for a bowl game Saturday against South Alabama.
The South Carolina offense has been in the business of bailing out its defense all season. The unit is all the way down at 98th in the country in total defense. But after putting together a convincing performance last week against Florida, the Gamecocks defensive unit looks as organized as ever. And Saturday could be the offense's chance to put on a show without having to make up for the deficiencies on the other side of the ball.
But, according to South Alabama head coach Joey Jones, the Jaguars welcome the challenge of a South Carolina offense operating a peak efficiency.
"[Our players] like the fact that we're going to be playing against a team that is scoring a lot of points," Jones said. "We're looking forward to it. We're looking forward to this opportunity."
One thing that's been masked by the Gamecocks' gaudy offensive numbers has been highly inconsistent wide receiver play.
Aside from sophomore Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina has seen more than its fair share of dropped balls and miscommunication between quarterback and receiver.
"Our guys have not played as well as we think some of them can, for whatever reason," head coach Steve Spurrier said. "It is what it is, and some of them may not start that didn't play very well, but they'll be in the game."
Namely, junior Shaq Roland most likely won't start, but redshirt senior Nick Jones will.
While Roland has been dealing with a combination of issues on and off the field, Jones has curried the favor of his coaches with the work ethic that has earned the 5-foot-7 receiver all of his opportunities with the team.
"Nick's doing everything that we ask him to do," wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. said. "He plays hard. He plays tough. He catches most of the balls coming his way. So he's done a good job."
Jones has amassed 35 catches and 433 yards through the air this season, second-best on the team behind Cooper's astonishing 55 and 826.
Each year before the annual meeting with Clemson, the Gamecocks schedule a nonconference opponent from outside the power-five conferences. This year, the Jaguars earn the distinction of South Carolina's sacrificial lamb before its big rivalry game.
But if we've learned anything this year, it's that the Gamecocks can't expect anything to come easy, not even a team that's currently fifth in the Sun Belt standings.
The Jaguars rank third in their conference in total defense, and they're No. 1 in scoring defense. And according to the Head Ball Coach, that's reason enough for South Carolina to take a cautionary attitude into Saturday's game.
"They're a good team," Spurrier said. "They can rush the passer — they've got a couple defensive ends that really come. They mix up their coverages. You don't get the same thing all the time."