South Carolina’s Disrespectful Scheduling Decision: A Commentary on the 2025 Football Season

In the ever-evolving landscape of college football, scheduling is one of the most crucial and often overlooked aspects of a program’s long-term success and reputation. Each season’s slate of games tells a story about how teams navigate the rigors of competition, the relationships between conference foes, and how they position themselves for future success. However, South Carolina’s recent decision to schedule its 2025 football season in a manner that potentially disrespects Alabama is one that deserves scrutiny. By choosing a path that minimizes the importance of facing the Crimson Tide, South Carolina has taken a questionable step that not only undermines the tradition of college football but also shows a lack of understanding of the power dynamics that shape the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

This decision isn’t just about scheduling—it’s about respect, competition, and the fabric of college football itself. For many fans, coaches, and analysts, it has been hard to ignore the message that South Carolina’s 2025 schedule sends: a message that seems to disregard the history and dominance of one of the most successful programs in college football, Alabama.

The Scheduling Landscape

The SEC is widely regarded as the most competitive football conference in the nation. It consistently produces championship-contending teams, and its strength in depth is unparalleled. In this highly competitive arena, teams like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and others are the gold standard. Alabama, in particular, has long been a titan of the sport. The Crimson Tide, under the leadership of legendary head coach Nick Saban, has amassed a staggering number of national championships, SEC titles, and NFL draft picks.

In this context, any decision to avoid playing such a powerhouse like Alabama can be seen as a significant move. For South Carolina, a team that has struggled to consistently compete at the highest levels of the conference, their scheduling decisions are especially critical. They need opportunities to elevate their program, improve their recruiting, and build a stronger legacy. Avoiding Alabama, either directly or indirectly, could be seen as an attempt to sidestep these opportunities.

South Carolina’s Recent Scheduling Strategy

South Carolina’s 2025 scheduling decision, which features a lighter overall schedule and a reduced emphasis on Alabama, represents a shift that many fans and analysts find questionable. At a time when the Gamecocks should be striving to improve and build their reputation in the SEC, avoiding a clash with Alabama looks like an intentional move to escape from what could be a difficult but ultimately beneficial challenge.

One might argue that the Gamecocks have every right to schedule in a way that helps them maximize their chances for success. After all, every program must take into account the balance between strength of schedule and the practical goal of securing a bowl berth or building momentum. However, the timing of this decision, coupled with the broader implications, suggests a desire to avoid the toughest tests in the SEC, particularly the juggernaut that is Alabama.

The Message to the Fans and the SEC

For fans of South Carolina, this scheduling choice raises a host of questions. The Gamecocks have long struggled to maintain consistency in the SEC, with occasional flashes of brilliance but no sustained runs of dominance. By avoiding Alabama, South Carolina is effectively telling its own fanbase and the broader college football community that the team is not interested in testing itself against the best. This decision risks undermining any narrative of improvement or ambition that the Gamecocks might otherwise try to craft.

The fans of South Carolina deserve a team that fights to compete with the best. Avoiding a program like Alabama—one that is synonymous with elite football—could be seen as an act of cowardice. It raises the question: if South Carolina isn’t willing to face a program of Alabama’s caliber head-on, how serious are they about their own aspirations for success?

Furthermore, this decision sends a problematic signal to the rest of the SEC. The conference is built on a foundation of fierce competition and the drive to be the best. Teams that avoid playing the toughest opponents risk sending the wrong message to their fellow members of the SEC. College football thrives on rivalries, on competition, and on the narrative of teams rising to meet challenges. South Carolina, by avoiding Alabama, diminishes this narrative and sends a message that might be seen as lacking the heart and fortitude that is typically associated with SEC football.

The Respect Factor

When teams like South Carolina and Alabama face off on the gridiron, it’s about more than just wins and losses. It’s about respect. Alabama has earned its place at the top through decades of dominance, cultivating a program that is not only a beacon of success but also a symbol of the grit and determination required to be a perennial powerhouse. A team like South Carolina, while not historically a national contender on the same level as Alabama, can use matchups like these as opportunities to prove themselves, to show their resilience, and to elevate their profile.

By opting not to schedule Alabama in 2025, South Carolina is missing out on an opportunity to show their players, fans, and recruits that they are willing to go toe-to-toe with the best. Football, at its core, is about facing challenges head-on, and by avoiding Alabama, South Carolina not only sidesteps that challenge, but it also minimizes the importance of competing at the highest level.

Recruiting and Future Success

One of the primary reasons for playing high-profile games against teams like Alabama is the recruiting advantages they offer. Young athletes, especially those considering SEC programs, want to play in big games. They want to compete on the biggest stages and prove their skills against the best competition. By facing Alabama, South Carolina would have the opportunity to demonstrate to recruits that they are willing to challenge themselves against the top dogs of the conference.

When teams avoid tough opponents, it can have ripple effects throughout the recruiting process. Recruits want to be a part of programs that are not only competitive but also confident in their ability to rise to the occasion. If South Carolina is unwilling to play against Alabama, that could send a message to potential recruits that the Gamecocks aren’t fully committed to competing for championships in the SEC.

On the flip side, playing against a team like Alabama and potentially pulling off an upset could do wonders for recruiting. The publicity and recognition from a high-profile win could help South Carolina attract top-tier talent, elevating their program in ways that other types of victories simply cannot.

The Rivalry Element

College football thrives on rivalries. These are the games that fans look forward to the most, and they are often the most exciting and memorable matchups of the season. While Alabama and South Carolina may not have a longstanding, heated rivalry like some other SEC matchups, a game between these two teams would still carry weight, especially given Alabama’s stature and South Carolina’s hunger to prove itself in the conference. A healthy rivalry built on competition, respect, and history can do wonders for a program’s culture and its relationship with its fanbase.

By bypassing Alabama, South Carolina is missing an opportunity to create a meaningful chapter in what could have been a developing rivalry. These types of rivalries build interest, grow fan engagement, and make the sport more exciting overall. The Gamecocks, by avoiding the Crimson Tide, pass up on an opportunity to strengthen their own identity and become a more relevant force in the conference.