Inconsistent might be the best way to describe South Carolina’s season. If that doesn’t fit, how about frustrating, disappointing or full of self-inflicted wounds?

Each time the Gamecocks appear to be on the verge of stringing momentum together, they stub their toe and revert to a pedestrian effort that one would think they’d grown out of in Will Muschamp’s third season.

The coach could not explain Saturday the surge the Gamecocks get each week, and how it doesn’t happen earlier in the game. South Carolina has outscored its past four opponents 50-3 in the third quarter, for example.

Its biggest goals long gone, aside from reaching a bowl game, about the only way to salvage this season is to upset Clemson, which appears to be a tall order.

Here are the biggest reasons South Carolina is 3-3 entering its off week before playing host to Tennessee on Oct. 27:

Quarterback play

It is reasonable to believe that the Texas A&M game was a microcosm of South Carolina’s season when it comes to the quarterback position. Jake Bentley was booed early, and there was plenty of discussion about pulling him. But then he rallied in the third quarter, and those one-time naysayers came around to say that he gave the team the best chance to win.

The team is 11th in the SEC in red-zone conversions and Bentley continues to lead the SEC in interceptions, with 7. He’s on pace to exceed last year’s total of 12.

Uneven play at wide receiver

Muschamp has bemoaned the dropped passes all season. They certainly were an issue against Georgia in Week 2. The dropped passes were highlighted again against Texas A&M. It’s team-wide, but it also has contributed to Deebo Samuel, for example, still not having a 100-yard receiving game. Inexplicably, Samuel is fifth in the SEC in catches, but just 10th in receiving yards and eighth in touchdowns.

Outside of possibly Ole Miss, South Carolina had a strong argument for having the best group of receivers in the SEC; they returned just about everyone except Hayden Hurst from last year when drops weren’t an issue.

It’s difficult to figure what’s happened to Bryan Edwards following his performance against Georgia, when he had 7 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Since then, in four games, he’s averaged about 4 catches per game for 46 yards, and made 2 TDs total.

Turnover margin

The Gamecocks are tied for last in the SEC (Texas A&M) with -5 turnover margin, and have barely forced one per game. As Muschamp has said, the team is a far cry from the days of Skai Moore and Dante Sawyer. Like other problems facing the team, coaches are emphasizing improvement, but it’s simply not happening.

Bentley’s interceptions are one thing, but they also have lost 5 fumbles. In three SEC losses, their opponents have a total of 2 turnovers.

Penalties

After committing 9 penalties in the opener against Coastal Carolina. Muschamp said then the players need to have better discipline and composure, but that message has not registered. The Gamecocks are averaging 7.3 penalties per game — fourth-most in the SEC. But it gets worse: Of their 44 penalties, more than half (24) came in the past three games. At the same point last season — six games — South Carolina had 23 penalties.

Muschamp earlier this season in response to a question about penalties by Jaycee Horn said he’d rather say “Whoa!” than “Giddyup!'” but giving up 54-99 yards each game, except for Georgia, is not a formula for success.

Rushing offense

The narrative entering the season was that South Carolina had a deep backfield and the likes of Rico Dowdle was a healthy season from 1,000 yards, or more. He’s the only back who has played in every game, and he has just 351 yards, which is 19th in the league. His 2 touchdowns rank 31st.

They only have two 100-yard rushing games, both by Dowdle, but too often their top rusher has fewer than 50 yards in a game.

Lack of special teams fireworks

Along with Samuel’s lack of big plays in the passing game, he and Edwards have yet to make a splash on special teams.

Touchbacks have neutralized Samuel as he has just eight kickoff returns in the six games, and he’s averaging just 20 yards per return, hardly any upgrade from a touchback. As a team, the Gamecocks are second-to-last in the SEC in average return.

Similarly, Edwards has just seven punt returns and is averaging just 8 yards per attempt. Only Ole Miss, Arkansas and Missouri have fewer punt returns in the SEC.