South Carolina heads to Gainesville on Saturday looking to dig itself out of an 0-3 SEC hole, and the matchup with No. 16 Florida comes with plenty packed into it: a noon-ish kickoff, a ranked opponent, injury questions on both sides and a weather forecast that could make the trip miserable.
The Gamecocks and Gators are set for a 12:45 p.m. start at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, with the game airing on SEC Network. South Carolina enters at 2-3 after last week’s overtime loss to Kentucky, while Florida is 4-1 and 3-1 in the SEC after falling 45-17 at Missouri. John Sumrall’s team took its first loss of the season in that game.
Florida has owned the series over the years, leading 31-10-3 all-time. South Carolina’s most recent trip to Gainesville ended in a loss, and the Gamecocks haven’t won there since 2014. Their last victory against Florida came in 2021, and the Gators also beat USC in 2023 after scoring two touchdowns in the final four minutes to steal the game.
For anyone wondering how to follow it, the broadcast crew is Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Tori Petry. Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs and Chet Tucker will handle the local radio call, while Troy Clardy, Max Starks and Mia O’Brien are on national radio for ESPN. The game can also be streamed through the ESPN app or ESPN.com.
The betting market has Florida as the clear favorite, though the number has moved a bit. The Gators opened as 14.5-point favorites at VegasInsider consensus, and the line has settled at 12.5 points at DraftKings and FanDuel. South Carolina is 1-4 against the spread this season, and ESPN Analytics gives the Gamecocks a 27% chance to pull the upset.
Injury-wise, South Carolina had nine players listed on the official SEC report Wednesday night. DB Jalewis Soloman, WR Jayden Sellers, edge rusher Kobby Sakyi-Prah and OL Josiah Thompson are out. DB Quay’sheed Scott, edge rusher Julian Walker and DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy are doubtful, while WR Mazeo Bennett and OL Carter Miller are questionable.
One name not on the report: Dylan Stewart. The star edge rusher was suspended indefinitely after South Carolina’s loss to Alabama, sat out last week against Kentucky and returned to team activities this week. Shane Beamer said Tuesday that Stewart’s status for Florida remains to be determined.
Weather could be part of the story too. AccuWeather’s current forecast calls for an 88% chance of precipitation, along with “a couple showers and a thunderstorm.”
The high is expected to reach 87 degrees with a low of 73, and the real feel is projected around 99. Current models of Tropical Storm Isaias have the storm missing Gainesville, though there could still be residual precipitation for anyone heading home Sunday.
On the field, the biggest matchup may be South Carolina’s run defense against Florida back Jaden Baugh. The Gamecocks have been strong against the run and sit in the top half of the SEC in rushing defense, but Baugh has been one of the league’s most dangerous backs. Missouri held him to 13 rushing yards last week, showing he can be slowed, and South Carolina will need a similar effort if it wants a shot at the upset.
Dylan Stewart’s availability is another major swing point. When he’s right, he changes the feel of the entire defense, even if his impact has been limited so far this season. Beamer has already said his status is undecided.
There’s also the bigger picture around Beamer’s future. The conversation around his job security has grown louder during the 0-3 SEC start, and Beamer has openly acknowledged the results haven’t been good enough. Whether a road win over a ranked Florida team would quiet that talk, or spark South Carolina through the back half of the schedule, is still an open question.
A few players stand out heading in. Mazeo Bennett has started to find his rhythm after a sophomore slump, leading South Carolina with 18 catches and 201 yards.
He set career highs last week with eight receptions and 92 yards. Anthony Addison has stepped into a bigger role on the edge with Stewart out, posting seven tackles and a team-high three sacks, and his Pro Football Focus pass rush grade of 79 is the best on the Gamecocks.
Florida’s offense still runs through Baugh, who has 613 rushing yards, tied for No. 5 in the NCAA, and 11 touchdowns, tied for No. 1.
He piled up more than 130 yards and multiple touchdowns in each of the first four games before Missouri bottled him up. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Myles Graham leads the Gators with 33 tackles, and his PFF tackle grade of 87.4 ranks No. 1 among SEC inside linebackers after adjusting for minimum snaps played.
In Other News...
South Carolinas Return Game Just Put Nyck Harbor On Notice
South Carolina made a noticeable tweak on special teams against Mississippi State, turning its kickoff return duties from Nyck Harbor to Jaquel Holman during the game. The switch was not a surprise in the sense that both players have been in the mix this season, but it did add a little more clarity to how the Gamecocks are evaluating the role as the year goes on.
Special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley said Holman has shown improvement and brings a fearless approach to returning kicks, which helps explain why the staff wanted to see him in that spot. Holman has averaged 23 yards on four returns this season, while Harbor has averaged 19.3 yards on four returns, leaving South Carolina with at least one more interesting decision to sort through as the return game develops. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Is Still Chasing A Defensive Line Target To Watch
South Carolina is continuing to work the board on the defensive line, and 2027 prospect Gehrig Felix has emerged as a name worth watching. The South Alabama commit made a visit to the Gamecocks for their game against Kentucky, where he met with coaches and spent time talking through how he could fit into Travian Robertsons defense.
Felix has been productive this senior season, with 19 tackles and four for loss in six games, and that kind of early impact is exactly why South Carolina remains interested. For the Gamecocks, the visit was another chance to make a pitch to a player already pledged elsewhere, and the next steps in that evaluation will be worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Suddenly Facing A Dangerous Spot Before Its Brutal Stretch
Floridas upcoming run is getting attention for all the wrong reasons, and the Week 6 pick against South Carolina only adds to the unease. The broader upset trends through Week 5 suggest underdogs have not been cashing in at the usual rate, especially in Group of 6 versus Power 4 games, but this matchup still stands out because of how the two teams have looked and what each side has coming next.
South Carolina has its own questions to sort through, but the Gamecocks are being viewed as the side better positioned to take advantage if Florida is even a little off. One wrinkle worth watching is Dylan Stewarts status, with his suspension situation still listed as TBA, leaving one more piece of the puzzle unresolved as the Gamecocks line up for a game that could say plenty about both teams. [Read more 🡒]