The Gamecocks had their first losing season since 2003 and their worst record since 1999.[5] The upset by The Citadel was the first time an SEC team had lost to an FCS team since 2013.[6] It was South Carolina's first loss to a FCS team since 1990, and it remains the most recent.[7] The Gamecocks' loss to archrival No. 1 Clemson was the second in a row, and the first in Williams–Brice Stadium since 2007.[8]
Schedule
South Carolina announced their 2015 football schedule on October 14, 2014. The 2015 schedule consisted of 7 home games, 4 away games and 1 neutral game in the regular season. The Gamecocks hosted SEC foes Florida, Kentucky, LSU, and Vanderbilt, and traveled to Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.[9]
The Gamecocks hosted three of the four non–conference play against UCF, the Citadel and in-state rival Clemson. South Carolina traveled to play North Carolina at a neutral site in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Gamecocks traveled to College Station, Texas, for the first time ever on Halloween. They were set to host LSU at home but the contest was relocated to Baton Rouge as a consequence of severe flooding in Columbia, South Carolina.[10] On October 13, 2015, Steve Spurrier officially announced his resignation as head football coach, and co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott was named interim head coach for the remaining games of the season.[11]
‡ As part of their penalty for NCAA violations, Missouri has retroactively vacated its 2015 victory over South Carolina. However, the penalty to vacate victories does not result in a loss (or forfeiture) of the affected game or award a victory to the opponent, therefore South Carolina still considers the game a loss in their official records.[13]
^ ab The 2015 South Carolina-LSU game was originally scheduled to take place in Williams–Brice Stadium. However, due to catastrophic flooding in South Carolina indirectly caused by Hurricane Joaquin, the game was moved to LSU's home stadium. The Gamecocks were still technically considered, and treated as, the home team. The LSU band played South Carolina's fight song and alma mater, while Tiger Stadium played Also sprach Zarathustra before the Gamecocks' entrance as well as "Sandstorm" before their opening kickoff. LSU only brought seventy players, as mandated by the SEC for "visitors". Tiger fans applauded the Gamecocks as they took and left the field. All profits from the game went towards relief efforts.[2][3][4]
^"2015 Football Schedule Announced" (Press release). University of South Carolina Department of Athletics. October 14, 2014. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
