COLUMBIA — Four games down, eight to go on the 2024 South Carolina football schedule.

Six games are against top 25 teams, with Wofford and Vanderbilt the only non-ranked opponents remaining.

Coach Shane Beamer has dealt with an inconsistent quarterback situation. Starter LaNorris Sellers has played only one full game. Because of an ankle injury, he missed a quarter against Kentucky in Week 2 and a half against LSU in Week 3, and was out against Akron in Week 4.

Backup Robby Ashford replaced Sellers against LSU, then ranked No. 17, but the Gamecocks were unable to pull off the upset and lost 36-33. Ashford led them to a 50-7 win against Akron. Now, Sellers is expected to return as the starter.

Beamer said star running back Rocket Sanders, who left the Akron game with a foot injury, is also expected back this week.

South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 SEC) hosts No. 11 Ole Miss on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) before traveling to face No. 2 Alabama in likely the two toughest games this season.

Looking ahead, here's what South Carolina needs to get to six wins and make a bowl game, which the Gamecocks missed out on last season after finishing 5-7 overall, 3-5 in the conference.

South Carolina's defense can't let off the gas vs Ole Miss, Alabama

With an offense affected by growing pains, South Carolina's defense can't let up, especially against Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1).

South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard led the SEC with 5½ sacks going into the open week. As a team, the Gamecocks (264.8) sit one spot behind No. 5 Ole Miss (258.4) for total average yards allowed this season. South Carolina allows the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (160.8) and sixth-fewest rushing yards per game (104.0).

But even though Ole Miss just lost 20-17 to Kentucky — which South Carolina beat 31-6 in Week 2 — the Rebels still lead the SEC in total yards per game (607.2). The Rebels have the most passing yards per game (390.4) and fourth-most in rushing (216.8).

Quarterback Jaxson Dart has more SEC experience than Sellers and an established passing game with wide receivers Tre Harris and Cayden Lee, whereas the Gamecocks are still developing theirs.

Sanders is South Carolina's go-to running back, but Ole Miss has been using four or five backs this season.

To compete with the best, South Carolina's top asset can't suffer, and right now it's the defense.

LaNorris Sellers turnovers, Rocket Sanders injury concerns need to disappear

Sellers has been sacked 10 times and has fumbled six times.

Beamer said ball security is brought up constantly in practice, so it'll be important for Sellers, who had maximum practice time with the open date, to show improvement.

Sellers was trending in a positive direction from the Kentucky game to LSU before his injury. Opponents like Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma and Missouri are too strong for him to afford going backward.

Sanders, a transfer from Arkansas, was off to a good start for the Gamecocks, and they need him to avoid the injury issues he had with the Razorbacks. Oscar Adaway III did well against Akron, but Akron doesn't compare to the strength of defenses like that of Missouri or Alabama.

South Carolina won't make bowl game without learning from LSU loss

Besides the Vanderbilt game, Texas A&M and Oklahoma are likely the next most winnable SEC games left. But if it's a close game, South Carolina has to show it learned from its mistakes made against LSU.

The Gamecocks nearly beat LSU but were plagued by self-inflicted errors that ultimately cost them the game.

South Carolina needs to beat at least one ranked team to make a bowl game. Whether it can limit late-game mistakes against a top team could determine whether it makes it there.

LSU: South Carolina proves vs LSU it can compete in SEC but not that it can handle success there

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina football 2024 bowl chances before Ole Miss game