Paul Finebaum Names Rising SEC Program That's 'Here to Stay'

Paul Finebaum Names Rising SEC Program That's 'Here to Stay' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The 2025 college football season witnessed the emergence of several college football programs. Notably, teams such as the Indiana Hoosiers and Arizona State Sun Devils qualified for the College Football Playoff, even though they were projected to finish near the bottom of their conferences at the start of the season.

Some teams made significant improvements toward contention, but didn't quite make the playoffs. One example is the South Carolina Gamecocks, who finished 9-4 and ranked No. 15 in the final CFP standings.

That season followed a disappointing 5-7 record in 2023 and marked the best performance since 2017, when the team also finished with a 9-4 record. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst pointed out that South Carolina typically follows a strong year with a disappointing one, as it did in 2023 after going 8-5 in 2022. However, he does not believe that trend will continue this season, citing one key reason.

"South Carolina is one of the easiest schools to misread because every other year it seems they go from extremes," Finebaum said. "I do believe with LaNorris Sellers, they are here to stay right now. Their schedule is difficult, and that's where if they don't have a great season, that's what will trip them up."

Paul Finebaum Thinks LaNorris Sellers Could Be the Best QB in South Carolina's History

Finebaum has a strong belief in Sellers' abilities as a quarterback. He even considers that he could become the best quarterback in South Carolina history.

“To me, LaNorris Sellers is the bestquarterback they’ve had; I mean, they’ve had a couple of good ones, but I think he could be the best,” Finebaum previously said. 

Sellers had an impressive performance as a redshirt freshman, throwing for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with a completion rate of 65.6%. He also rushed for 674 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns.

Connor Shaw is often considered the best quarterback in South Carolina Gamecocks history, according to a list published on On3. He played for the team from 2010-13, amassing a total of 6,074 passing yards, 56 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions during his career. Additionally, Shaw rushed for 1,683 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns, leading the Gamecocks to three consecutive 11-win seasons.

LaNorris Sellers Must Overcome Major Losses from Last Season's Team

The team is facing a significant challenge this year after losing several key pieces from last year's team. South Carolina ranks 71st in the nation for returning production, with only 56% of its players coming back. This situation is especially concerning for the defense, as the team is expected to retain just 46% of its defensive production. Notable departures include defensive end Kyle Kennard and running back Raheim Sanders.

Kennard led the team with 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. He was the winner of the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors the nation’s top defensive player. The Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sanders rushed for 881 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, along with contributing 316 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He joined the Chargers as an undrafted free agent.

Sellers will strive to overcome these losses in the 2025 season, starting with the Gamecocks' game at home against the Virginia Tech Hokies at 3 p.m. ET Aug. 31.

Related: Paul Finebaum Names SEC Program Hoping to Prove People Wrong in 2025

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.