Josh Pate Reveals the Most Underrated Environment in College Football

The South Carolina Gamecocks have, at times, felt like the forgotten little brother of the SEC.

With powerhouse schools like Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, and now Oklahoma and Texas, South Carolina is often overshadowed by whichever team it’s playing each week.

But as CBS Sports’ Josh Pate revealed on Saturday, the Gamecocks have one of the best game-day environments not just in the SEC but in college football period, and he made a case that more people should be giving South Carolina it’s due.

“[South Carolina is] the most underrated I think in major college football,” Pate said. “Clemson is in this state, but Clemson gets it’s due. A lot of the other places in the SEC that deserve it, get their due. This place, especially if it’s early in the season, doubly especially if they grab a lead on you, is pretty insane.

“I’ve been here several times for big games — been here when Georgia’s been here, been here when Alabama’s been here — if you look around and close your eyes, you can convince yourself that you’re at one of those places that are perennially on one of those top-10 venues list.”

South Carolina hosts LSU on Saturday, which is seemingly always at the top of those top-10 lists Pate mentioned. The Tigers are often credited for having the most-difficult-to-play-in road environment in the NCAA.

Though LSU is a 6.5-point favorite, if South Carolina’s crowd can factor into the game, especially early on, it could have a chance of pulling an upset.