Every college football fan base wants the same thing. They want to believe their team can win a national championship every year. That belief is what fuels the sport, drives passion and creates the emotional investment that makes college football unique. It is also, in most cases, unrealistic. There are only a handful of programs built to sustain that level of success. For everyone else, progress looks different. It comes in waves, not straight lines. It includes breakthrough seasons, unexpected setbacks and everything in between. The problem is that once a program shows signs of life, expectations often change overnight. South Carolina is a perfect example of that shift. The Gamecocks went 9-4 in 2024 and looked like a team on the rise. They were competitive, confident and capable of beating quality opponents. That type of season does more than improve a record. It changes how a fan base views its program moving forward. South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) passes under pressure.…