Missouri football: Ranking the 5 easiest games on the 2021 schedule

Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 19, 2021; Hoover, Alabama, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 19, 2021; Hoover, Alabama, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports /

Under new head coach Shane Beamer, the South Carolina Gamecocks look to rebuild.

Long gone are the days of Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz. Shane Beamer is now the man in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Gamecocks had their worst season since 1998 in 2020, going 2-8, only beating Vanderbilt and a shocking upset over Auburn. Other than that, it was a rough season. From top to bottom, the South Carolina football program is resetting and entering rebuild mode with the son of coaching legend Frank Beamer at the helm.

Between recruiting and the new-blood head coach, there is some palpable excitement around this team. But this team is not built for 2021, or maybe even 2022.

In 2020, the Gamecocks were all sorts of bad.

Ranked in the bottom half for every major team statistic, there is not much to build on besides junior running back Kevin Harris. A 2020 first-team All-SEC selection, Harris accounts for more than half of the Gamecocks touchdowns in 2020, scoring 15 of the team’s 29 touchdowns.

The Hinesville, Georgia native can only do so much though. With an unknown quarterback and no standout receiving talent, the offense may be mostly on the ground.

This appears on the list for both the talent and coaching gap. The Gamecocks are where the Tigers were last year, looking at young talent and coaching and hoping for the best. Look for this to be a competitive game, but almost assuredly a Tigers win.