Before the start of Illinois football's training camp on Aug. 2 in Champaign, beat writer Bob Asmussen is counting down the Top 50 teams heading into the 2019 college football season:
No. 38: South Carolina
Coach: Will Muschamp
2018 record: 7-6
Projected 2019 record: 8-4
Circle the date: Sept. 14 vs. Alabama
Bowl trip: Belk
Why No. 38: Quarterback Jake Bentley is a good place to start. He threw for 510 yards and five touchdowns last season against eventual national champion Clemson.