South Carolina will have Dylan Stewart back for Saturday’s matchup at Florida after Shane Beamer lifted the star defensive end’s suspension, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Stewart had been sidelined since Beamer suspended him indefinitely following the Week 4 loss to Alabama. In that game, Stewart threw a punch at an Alabama player and also got into a sideline argument with Beamer. He then missed last week’s 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky, leaving his status for the Florida game up in the air for much of the week.
Thamel reported Friday that the situation had been resolved in time for Week 6. “Per an ESPN source, star South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart is playing at Florida tomorrow. The expected is now official. https://t.co/1PpsxaiYnu
- Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 9, 2026”
There had already been signs earlier in the week that Stewart was moving toward a return, but Friday’s report made it official.
The timing matters for both Stewart and South Carolina. Stewart came into the 2026 season as one of the top prospects in the country, but his year has gone sideways. He missed the first two games because of injuries, and the off-field issues have only made things worse for his stock.
The Gamecocks’ season has gone off track as well. They entered the year with high expectations, but they’re sitting at 2-3 and have dropped all three of their SEC games.
Saturday’s game at Florida gives South Carolina a chance to stop the slide, and it gives Stewart a chance to show he can still be the player people expected him to be this season.
In Other News...
Florida Could Get Key Help Back While One Gators Concern Lingers
Florida got a little good news on the availability front ahead of its game against South Carolina, with senior safety Bryce Thornton no longer on the injury report and expected back in action. The Gators also have running back London Montgomery and cornerback Dijon Johnson listed as probable, which gives the staff a few more options as it sorts through the rotation for a conference matchup that could use some stability on both sides of the ball.
Vernell Brown III is still the name to watch, though, as the freshman remains questionable with a knee strain even while showing positive progress. Florida has not closed the door on his return, but for now the Gators are still waiting to see how much late-week improvement he can make before deciding whether he can be part of the mix against the Gamecocks. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Gymnastics Shakeup Just Got Even More Emotional
Floridas gymnastics roster has taken an unexpected turn, with Leanne Wong, Kaylee Bluffstone and Taylor Clark all removed from the active list and the program offering no public explanation for the moves. Head coach Jenny Rowland has confirmed the changes, but so far she has stopped short of providing any specifics, leaving the situation around one of the sports most closely watched teams to be sorted through mostly from the outside.
Skylar Drasers recent removal from the roster has only added to the unease, especially after the senior pushed back on the online speculation swirling around the team. Draser also said she plans to graduate and enter the NCAA transfer portal, a development that gives the Gators even more to sort out as the season moves forward and the unanswered questions around the roster continue to hang over the program. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Top 10 Doubt To Silence Fast
Floridas latest run has left the Gators looking like a team that can overwhelm elite competition one week and look far less settled the next. The win over Ole Miss gave the program a major boost and reinforced the idea that it belongs in the upper tier nationally, but the uneven showing against Missouri kept the discussion from becoming a full-blown coronation. Around the sport, the consensus has been strong enough to place Florida among the top 10 teams, even if the precise slot keeps shifting depending on how much weight is given to each of those two very different outings.
For Florida, the real issue now is less about outside perception than about proving the Ole Miss version is the one that shows up more often in SEC play. The upcoming stretch will give the Gators chances to do exactly that, and Jon Sumrall will have his hands full getting the team ready for a league slate that does not forgive inconsistency. If Florida wants the ranking debate to quiet down, it has to settle it on the field fast. [Read more 🡒]