The South Carolina Gamecocks may have struggled in their season opener against border rival the North Carolina Tar Heels, but late heroics on both sides of the ball permitted the SEC representative to walk out of Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium the victor, 17-13.
What was expected to be an offensive, back-and-forth affair quickly turned into a defensive slugfest, with both squads held to under 450 total yards and a combined 30 points.
South Carolina Game Grades vs. North Carolina (Week 1)
| Positional Unit | First-Half Grade | Second-Half Grade |
| Pass Offense | B- | C |
| Run Offense | B- | A |
| Pass Defense | C+ | B+ |
| Run Defense | B+ | C- |
| Special Teams | A- | B+ |
| Coaching | B | B+ |
Pass Offense
Overall for the game, starter Connor Mitch and backup Perry Orth combined for 12-of-26, 140 yards and a single touchdown.