With conference championships settled and the College Football Playoff spots filled, the South Carolina Gamecocks finally learned their bowl destination and opponent on Sunday evening: USC will make the short trip to Charlotte’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl to face the familiar North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels, who also finished 6-6 with a 3-5 ACC mark, began the season in the top 10 and with considerable Heisman hype for quarterback Sam Howell. An immediate and underwhelming 17-10 loss to Virginia Tech derailed that train, and UNC wrapped up a head-scratching season with a disappointing fifth-place finish in the ACC’s Coastal division.