After last year's 3-9 season, South Carolina's stretch of three straight 11-win seasons from 2011-2013 seems like a distant memory. Steve Spurrier has ridden off into the proverbial sunset, and the Gamecocks have certainly experienced a fall from grace. These circumstances left athletic director Ray Tanner with a huge decision to make regarding the direction of the program.
Enter Will Muschamp. Known as "Coach Boom" for his intensity, Muschamp has sparked energy back into this faltering program. He's picked up momentum on the recruiting trail, and he's created optimism from fans out of thin air. Still, Muschamp and the Gamecocks have a lot of problems to solve this season.
The pass rush had just 20 sacks last season. There are no proven playmakers on the offense. The secondary leaves plenty to be desired and the unit's most experienced player just left the program. The unquestioned leader of the defense will miss the entire season. And we don't even need to talk about the quarterback situation.
The expectations for the upcoming season are low for obvious reasons. This season is about building momentum going forward. A five or six-win season should be considered a victory in Columbia this season, as the team lacks the elite talent to rise to the top of the SEC while also being young and inexperienced.
The Gamecock offense had some NFL-ready playmakers last season in Pharoh Cooper, Brandon Wilds and Jerell Adams, but all three will be playing on Sundays this fall. With a lack of depth replacing them, South Carolina will have to rely on its experienced offensive line, which is one of the stronger units in the SEC East.
Defensively, players like T.J. Holloman and Bryson Allen-Williams will have to fill the void left by Skai Moore. The pass rush needs to improve to make up for deficiencies in the secondary. Muschamp's defensive prowess gives fans optimism, but most are cautious to consider the team to be greatly improved.
This year, the ceiling and floor for this team are pretty low. Last season, it was possible to envision the Gamecocks contending in the SEC East, but that seems highly unlikely in 2016. It's also not hard to see the team winning three games or fewer.
This season will be all about how the Gamecocks start. With three SEC road games in the first month of the season, getting out to a good start is crucial if South Carolina is going to contend for bowl eligibility. If the Gamecocks manage a 4-0 start, it's certainly possible that the team could win as many as eight games. However, it's not too unlikely that the team starts out 1-3 either, which would likely result in a downward spiral as the Gamecocks get deeper into their SEC schedule.