Hey South Carolina, wake up! Josh Pate says it’s time to get serious. The college football analyst, who doesn’t mince his words, has been rooting and applauding Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks, ranking them 11th on his JP (Josh Pate’s) Poll. Because more “official” AP Poll continued to ignore them until last week. South Carolina’s win over No. 23 Missouri in Week 12 proved why Pate’s sticking to his words like anything.

On the November 17th episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, Pate praised the Gamecocks for their thrilling win: “South Carolina was up 21-6, and I say, of course, they’re going to pull away with it, then I go, get food, I look back, and Missouri’s got the lead….Carolina comes back and they end up winning this game, just an instant classic.” Pate was blown away by the thrilling finish to the South Carolina game, highlighting the four touchdowns scored in the final 10 minutes, including two in the final 70 seconds. Well, his reaction tells it all—the chaotic excitement about how that game unfolded, emphasizing the relentless drama that makes South Carolina a must-watch football team. His point? The Gamecocks are never out of it, and every game feels like a roller coaster ride.

Pate even had some fun with Shane Beamer’s decision to not publicly thank the JP Poll. He joked, “I know it was an omission not born out of hate… he has apologized already today…. He knows that we’ll ride for him.” While the sarcasm was a bit over the top, it’s clear that the analyst is a big fan of Beamer and the Gamecocks. It’s almost as if Josh Pate and Beamer share an unspoken camaraderie, built on mutual respect and a whole lot of playful banter. Even if public recognition failed to show, Pate’s unwavering support is loud and clear.

But the real hype is all about Shane Beamer’s redshirt freshman QB, LaNorris Sellers. “What I’m thinking at that point is forget about the point spread—Carolina’s going down, and they didn’t. And they didn’t. And they didn’t because LeNorris Sellers,” Pate raved. “They didn’t go down because LeNorris Sellers had nearly 400 total yards, five passing touchdowns.” The analyst was hyped, giving major props to Sellers for stepping up big-time. With this kind of star power emerging, you’ve got to wonder—Is a playoff dream for Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks really that far off?

Can Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks make the playoffs?

It’s tough to imagine what could’ve been if Shane Beamer and South Carolina hadn’t stumbled earlier in the season. “Had they lost one fewer game, South Carolina is in the thick of the playoff race right now.” They almost had Alabama on their girth in Week 6, but fell short by just 2 points, 27-25. If they had won that game or another close game against the LSU Tigers, they would be in playoff talk right now. Their close games are probably haunting them now, but it also highlights how competitive they’ve been all year round.

Yes, Josh Pate knows the playoff conversation is tricky. “The folks who are watching their games, you know good and well whether they belong in a playoff conversation. If you don’t think a three-loss team will ever get in, you’re probably right… I don’t think there are 12 teams playing better football right now than South Carolina.”

Whether the playoff dream is feasible or not, one thing is undeniable: the Gamecocks are playing elite football. If you’re not a casual fan, you know they’re playing exceptionally well, sometimes even better than top-ranked teams. And Josh Pate’s all about putting that on the map.