1986 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 1986 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Joe Morrison, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 3–6–2.

1986 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Conference	Independent
Record	3–6–2
Head coach	Joe Morrison (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Run N' Shoot
Defensive coordinator	Tom Gadd (4th season)
Home stadium	Williams–Brice Stadium
Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Penn State		–		–				12	–	0	–	0
No. 2 Miami (FL)		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
No. 20 Virginia Tech		–		–				9	–	2	–	1
No. 19 Boston College		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Tulsa		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Florida State		–		–				7	–	4	–	1
Army		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Temple		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Pittsburgh		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Rutgers		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Cincinnati		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Notre Dame		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				3	–	6	–	2
Tulane		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
West Virginia		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Louisville		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Navy		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Wichita State		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Northern Illinois		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	No. 3 Miami (FL)	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	ESPN	L 14–34	73,500	^[1]
September 6	at Virginia	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA		L 20–31	34,700	^[2]
September 13	Western Carolina	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 45–24	65,731	^[3]
September 27	Georgia	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC (rivalry)	ESPN	L 26–31	74,200	^[4]
October 4	No. 3 Nebraska	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		L 24–27	73,109	^[5]
October 11	at Virginia Tech	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA		T 27–27	40,700	^[6]
October 25	East Carolina	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 38–3	68,327	^[7]
November 1	at No. 16 NC State	Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC		L 22–23	50,230	^[8]
November 8	Florida State	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		L 28–45	71,689	^[9]
November 15	Wake Forest	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 48–21	64,186	^[10]
November 22	at No. 19 Clemson	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC (rivalry)		T 21–21	82,492	^[11]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[12]

References

1. "It's a breeze for Hurricanes in 34–14 win". The Miami Herald. August 31, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Virginia rolls to 30–20 win over South Carolina". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 7, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "USC routs W. Carolina". Anderson Independent-Mail. September 14, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Georgia beats South Carolina in bizarre finish". The Charlotte Observer. September 28, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Nebraska keeps second-half cool, fouls up Gamecocks' upset plans". Omaha World-Herald. October 5, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Gamecocks miss final field goal, tie Hokies 27–27". Greensboro News & Record. October 12, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "USC rolls past East Carolina, 38–3". The Times and Democrat. October 26, 1986. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Miracles come to pass and kick". The News and Observer. November 2, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "FSU rips Gamecocks". The Index-Journal. November 9, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Ellis skyrockets USC to rout over Deacons". The Rocky Mount Telegram. November 16, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Ron Green (November 23, 1986). "No smiles: USC 21, Clemson 21". The Greenville News. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
12. "1986 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2024.