Shane Beamer is making the case for South Carolina to get into the College Football Playoff

Shane Beamer believes his South Carolina team belongs in the College Football Playoff.

After a thrilling Palmetto Bowl win over Clemson, Beamer made the case for the Gamecocks to be added to the 12-team field. South Carolina entered Rivalry Week ranked No. 15 in the selection committee’s rankings. The Gamecocks are certainly ahead of Clemson in Tuesday’s rankings, which was ranked No. 12 after Week 13.

“I think we deserve a spot in the 12-team playoffs,” Beamer said after the game. “I understand the committee has a really tough job. You have to select the 12 best teams. I understand, we have three defeats, I understand that.

“But it’s hard for me to sit there and say we’re not one of the top 12 teams in the country when you look at the strength of our schedule and our away wins. I think we’re 4-1 in a difficult environment this year. We don’t go and play away in front of 20,000 people like some teams in this country do. We go into hostile environments every week. And our only loss on the road is a 2 point loss.

“We talk about the strength of the schedule. I think today is our fourth Top 25 win with what I think is the 12th strongest strength of the schedule. I get it, there are some teams that really deserve it, but if the committee’s job is to pick the top 12 teams…Tell me, if South Carolina shows up in that group on Selection Sunday, I don’t know a team I do I’m looking forward to playing against this team the way we’re playing right now. That’s what I judge it by.”

Unfortunately for Beamer and the Gamecocks, the committee doesn’t just pick the top 12 teams. Five spots go to conference champions. South Carolina will not play in the SEC Championship Game, so the Gamecocks are competing for one of seven total bids.

Due to champion spots and overall contenders, even placing in the top 12 is no guarantee of a playoff spot. In fact, Clemson was the first team to be eliminated at No. 12 from the projected group, as No. 16 Arizona State was the top-ranked Big 12 team (and was projected to be the Big 12 champion).

The Gamecocks can bring more chaos and rivalry to Saturday’s week and next week’s conference championship games.

Shane Beamer says South Carolina deserves to be in the College Football Playoff:

“We suffered three defeats, I understand that. But it’s hard for me to sit there and say we’re not one of the top 12 teams in the country.”

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— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) November 30, 2024