South Carolina didn’t just start 2-0. It came out of the gate scoring at a level the program hasn’t touched in decades.
After last season’s 4-8 finish and only one SEC win, Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks needed a fast answer in 2026. They’ve gotten one in emphatic fashion, flattening Kent State and Towson to set up a Week 3 SEC opener against Mississippi State with plenty of momentum behind them.
The scoring has been the headline. South Carolina hung 57 points on Kent State in the opener, then added 45 more against Towson in Week 2.
That adds up to 102 points through two games, the most by a South Carolina team in games 1 and 2 combined since 1980. That year’s team totaled 110 through its first two contests, so this group is only a step behind that pace.
Now comes a much different test. Mississippi State is also 2-0, and the matchup is set for Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
ET on SEC Network. The Gamecocks have already matched their win total from SEC play last season, and a 3-0 start would only sharpen the buzz around what they’ve built so far.
At the center of it all is LaNorris Sellers, who has been the engine for South Carolina’s explosive start. Through two games, he’s 29 of 46 for 366 yards with 3 touchdown passes and 1 interception. He’s also done damage on the ground, rushing 9 times for 120 yards and a touchdown.
South Carolina is trying to keep that offensive pace rolling and stack wins while it does it.
In Other News...
Mississippi States SEC Opener Comes With One Big South Carolina Unknown
South Carolina heads into its SEC opener on a good note after rolling past Towson 45-9 to move to 2-0 under Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks have started to build some momentum early in the 2026 season, and the matchup with Mississippi State now becomes the first real measuring stick for how that progress translates against league competition.
Beamer did at least offer some encouraging news on the health front, saying Carter Miller, Maurice Brown and DJ Black are expected to be available for Saturdays game. South Carolina still has one big unknown as it prepares for the 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff on the SEC Network, but getting those names back in the mix should give the Gamecocks a better chance to settle in once the conference schedule begins. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Fans Got The Update They Wanted After That Scary Collision
The immediate aftermath of South Carolinas punt return touchdown in the third quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium was overshadowed by a scary collision involving Towson punter Owen Scheihing. What could have lingered as the worst moment of the game instead turned into a relief-filled update, with Scheihing undergoing successful surgery on his left arm and emerging with a clear message of thanks for both teams training staffs after their quick response.
Scheihing also made a point of appreciating Vicari Swains outreach after the incident, a small but meaningful detail after a jarring play that briefly stopped the action. For South Carolina fans, it was the kind of postgame news they were hoping to hear after seeing the collision unfold, with the focus shifting from concern on the field to a promising recovery ahead for the injured punter. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State's Fast Start Just Set Up A Huge Early Test
Mississippi States 38-13 win over Minnesota in Week 2 did more than pad the SECs non-conference resume. It put a little extra weight behind an early conference matchup that already had plenty of intrigue, because the Bulldogs looked sharp on both sides of the ball while quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell helped set the tone. The defense did its part, too, keeping Minnesota from ever finding much rhythm and leaving Mississippi State with a result that stood out in a strong weekend for the league.
Now the attention shifts to South Carolina, where the matchup carries added appeal because of the quarterbacks involved. Taylor has already helped push Mississippi State into a fast start, while LaNorris Sellers gives the Gamecocks a different kind of test as the two teams get ready to meet. It is the kind of early-season SEC game that can tell you a lot about where each program stands, and Mississippi States quick opening makes the stakes feel a little bigger than they did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]