South Carolina is still searching for its first SEC title — as well as several other major championships that have eluded the Gamecocks during its 124-year history on the gridiron.

That’s not to say that South Carolina, who is 586-562 all-time, isn’t without its share of history.

The Gamecocks have proven they can recruit and hang with the best of the SEC, especially in recent years, even if the records don’t always reflect it.

Here’s a look at five of the best seasons in South Carolina football history.

2012: 11-2 (6-2)

Highlights: No. 8 final AP ranking, Outback Bowl champions

The apex of the Steve Spurrier-era in Columbia came in 2012 with the Gamecocks’ second of three-straight 11-win seasons.

The year culminated with one of the biggest postseason wins in program history with a 33-28 downing of Michigan, highlighted by one of the most iconic plays in South Carolina lore.

And while Dylan Thompson’s touchdown pass to Bruce Ellington won that year’s Outback Bowl with 11 seconds remaining, the play in question, however, was the bone-jarring hit Jadeveon Clowney levied on Wolverine running back Vincent Smith.

The crushing blow vaulted Clowney into instant superstardom while highlighting a defense that finished No. 4 in the SEC and No. 13 in the nation. His prowess also earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

South Carolina lost to only No. 9 LSU and No. 3 Florida that year, and upended ranked opponents in Georgia, Clemson and Michigan. The team’s No. 8 ranking in the final Associated Press polls was, at the time, the best in program history.

2013: 11-2 (6-2)

Highlights: No. 4 final AP ranking, Capital One Bowl champs

The toughest strength of schedule during Steve Spurrier’s decade-plus tenure wasn’t enough to prevent the best finish in program history and a third-consecutive 11-win season.

South Carolina finished No. 4 in the nation, highest in school history. Upset losses to Georgia and unranked Tennessee doomed the Gamecocks’ SEC East title hopes. But Spurrier’s squad still finished strong with upsets of No. 6 Missouri and No. 5 Clemson in the final weeks, as well as a Capital One Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

Clowney’s numbers slipped in his junior year, as injuries and double-teams took their toll. It wasn’t far of a slide, however, as the Houston Texans selected the defensive end with the first pick in that year’s NFL Draft. With that, Clowney became the second Gamecocks chosen No. 1 overall, following in the footsteps of George Rogers (1981).

2011: 11-2 (6-2)

Highlights: No. 9 final AP ranking, Capital One Bowl champs

While it’s true the 2010 squad is the only Gamecock team to win the SEC East, South Carolina finished the campaign 9-5 and closed the slate with losses to Auburn in the SEC Championship and Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

In 2011, Spurrier changed the program, taking them to 11 wins for the first time.

The season marked South Carolina’s second double-digit win year and was the first time the Gamecocks finished inside the top-10 in the AP rankings.

A second straight loss to Auburn, coupled with a defeat at the hands of No. 8 Arkansas prevented Spurrier’s team — which had gone undefeated in SEC East play — from returning to the SEC Championship Game.

2000: 8-4 (5-3)

Highlights: No. 19 final AP ranking, Outback Bowl champs

The 2000 season was the breakout campaign fans had been waiting for since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. Until then, the Gamecocks had two winning seasons and cracked the AP poll just once.

Skies didn’t appear much bluer, even after Lou Holtz was hired for the 1999 season as the Gamecocks bottomed out with an 0-11 record, the only winless season in program history.

Holtz’s squad started 7-1 in 2000 before dropping their final three regular-season games. South Carolina regrouped in the postseason, winning its first of two-consecutive Outback Bowls over Ohio State.

Holtz finished his time in Columbia with a 33-37 record, but he turned South Carolina back into a viable destination for the team to land Spurrier as his replacement.

1984: 10-2

Highlights: No. 11 final AP ranking

Playing in the ACC, the 1958 South Carolina team was the first to finish a season ranked by the AP, topping out at No. 15. It would be another 26 years until South Carolina was ranked again in a final poll.

That came courtesy of 1984 Gamecocks, who rose to No. 2 in the country, before a Week 10 loss to Navy in Annapolis dashed any title hopes. Joe Morrison’s squad earned the first 10-win season in program history, despite a Gator Bowl-loss to Oklahoma State.

Morrison got the Gamecocks as high as No. 8 before leaving Columbia in 1988, but failed to win his next two bowl games.

Also considered

1980: 8-4, George Rogers Heisman Award

The 1980 Gamecocks finished 8-4 and lost badly to Pittsburgh in the Gator Bowl. But Columbia hasn’t seen a season since, as George Rogers put forth arguably the greatest season in program history.

Rogers rushed for 1,781 yards (14 TDs) and garnered 1,804 yards from scrimmage to beat Herschel Walker of Georgia and Pitt’s Hugh Green to win the first and only Heisman Award in program history.

South Carolina didn’t even wait until Rogers playing career was over before retiring his No. 38 jersey that year during halftime of 1980’s final home game.