South Carolina football is on the cusp of achieving a remarkable milestone this season. Under the guidance of coach Shane Beamer, the No. 14 Gamecocks have shown great promise. With an 8-3 record and a crucial game against No. 12 Clemson on Saturday, they have the chance to finish with a 9-3 record and surpass former coach Steve Spurrier's win record in the first four seasons.

South Carolina Football's Bowl Game Journey and Playoff Hopes

Beamer's First Season: Duke's Mayo Bowl Triumph

In coach Shane Beamer's inaugural season, the Gamecocks achieved a significant victory. They defeated North Carolina 38-21 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl held in Charlotte on December 30, 2021. This win marked a promising start to their journey under his leadership.The Gamecocks' performance in that bowl game showcased their potential and set the stage for what was to come. It gave fans and the team a taste of the success that could be achieved with the right coaching and teamwork.

Recent Seasons: Gator Bowl and Beyond

In 2022, on December 30, South Carolina played in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, they faced a tough defeat, losing 45-38 to Notre Dame. This experience taught the team valuable lessons and motivated them to strive for better results in the future.Since 1946, South Carolina has participated in 25 bowl games, building a rich history in postseason play. Each bowl game has been a unique opportunity for the team to showcase their skills and compete at a high level.

Week 13 and Beyond: Bowl Game Projections

After a dominant 56-12 win over Wofford in Week 13, the latest bowl game projections for South Carolina are diverse. ESPN's Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have different visions. Bonagura projects South Carolina vs. Minnesota (currently 6-5) in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 30. Schlabach's latest projection has South Carolina vs. Illinois (8-3) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on December 31.Last week, both projected South Carolina to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on December 31. However, CBS Sports' Jerry Palm initially had South Carolina playing in the Gator Bowl against Louisville (7-4) on January 2 but has since changed his projection. This week, he has the Gamecocks facing Washington State (8-3) in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 27.247Sports' Brad Crawford also projects South Carolina vs. Iowa (7-4) in the ReliaQuest Bowl for the second consecutive week.

Playoff Possibilities and Challenges

As of last Tuesday, the Gamecocks were ranked No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings. However, their path to the playoffs is slim. If they lose to Clemson on Saturday, they will have no chance of making the CFP.The CFP selection committee ranks 25 teams for the new 12-team playoff format, and the rankings are updated every Tuesday until the final CFP field is announced on December 8. Every game from here on out is crucial for South Carolina's playoff hopes.Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. You can reach her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin.