1972 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

1972 South Carolina Gamecocks football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–7
Head coach
CaptainRick Brown
Home stadiumWilliams–Brice Stadium
1972 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Penn State     10 2 0
No. 14 Notre Dame     8 3 0
Utah State     8 3 0
West Virginia     8 4 0
Florida State     7 4 0
Northern Illinois     7 4 0
Rutgers     7 4 0
No. 20 Georgia Tech     7 4 1
Air Force     6 4 0
Army     6 4 0
Virginia Tech     6 4 1
Houston     6 4 1
Tulane     6 5 0
Temple     5 4 0
Colgate     5 4 1
Holy Cross     5 4 1
Syracuse     5 6 0
Miami (FL)     5 6 0
Dayton     4 6 1
Boston College     4 7 0
Navy     4 7 0
South Carolina     4 7 0
Southern Miss     3 7 1
Xavier     3 8 0
Marshall     2 8 0
Cincinnati     2 9 0
Villanova     2 9 0
Pittsburgh     1 10 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Paul Dietzel, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 4–7. The team played home games at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

For the first time since 1953, the Gamecocks did not play Duke, Maryland and North Carolina. South Carolina withdrew from the Atlantic Coast Conference following the 1970 football season, but played all seven ACC teams in 1971 to honor existing contracts.

South Carolina's home stadium was officially renamed from Carolina Stadium to Williams–Brice Stadium in dedication ceremonies during the season-opening game against Virginia on September 9, 1972.