South Carolina’s SEC opener arrives with some real juice to it. The Gamecocks are 2-0, Mississippi State is 2-0, and Williams-Brice Stadium gets the matchup Saturday at 4:15 p.m. on the SEC Network and the ESPN app.
For South Carolina, this is about more than just getting into conference play. The Gamecocks are trying to break a long dry spell and reach 3-0 for the first time since 2012. That streak has already survived a brutal Week 3 memory from last season, when Vanderbilt beat South Carolina for the first time in the series in 16 meetings.
There’s also good news on the injury front. Edge rusher Dylan Stewart and offensive lineman Jacarrius Peak are no longer on the SEC availability report, which signals USC’s staff expects both to be available.
Offensive lineman Carter Miller is also expected to play. Miller started the first two games at center before leaving last week with what Beamer described as a tightened back muscle.
Mississippi State, meanwhile, has shown up early as one of the league’s more intriguing teams. Sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor has been sharp, completing 38 of 56 passes for 581 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. That start has pushed him to the 10th-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
South Carolina opened as a 7.5-point favorite, but that number has fallen to about four points. ESPN Analytics still gives the Gamecocks a 64.5% chance to win.
And one more weapon is already making his mark: DB Vicari Swain. He returned two punts for touchdowns against Towson, giving him five career punt-return scores and making him the Gamecock football program’s all-time record holder.
In Other News...
Shane Beamer Addressed What South Carolina Must Fix After SEC Collapse
South Carolinas SEC opener ended with plenty of frustration at home, as the Gamecocks fell 41-34 to Mississippi State after a second-half letdown. Shane Beamer made clear afterward that the way his team played after halftime was the biggest concern, not just the final margin, and he stressed that how South Carolina responds in the days ahead will matter as much as what happened Saturday.
There were still some bright spots to sort through, including the kicking game, where Malik Orsan handled the pressure well in his first game as the starter and connected on all four field-goal tries. Two of those came from beyond 50 yards, a steady showing in a game where South Carolina could not afford to waste points, but the larger issue remains how the Gamecocks correct the slide that cost them a chance to open SEC play with momentum. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Let A Winnable SEC Game Slip Away Fast
South Carolina had Mississippi State right where it wanted it at halftime, up 23-16 and with enough momentum to suggest a winnable SEC game was within reach. Instead, the Gamecocks let it slip in a hurry, with Shane Beamer openly frustrated afterward about settling for field goals instead of finishing drives in the first half.
The collapse came fast once the game flipped back on them. South Carolina managed only five yards in the third quarter while Mississippi State put up 17 points, and LaNorris Sellers two second-half interceptions turned into 10 Bulldogs points. It was the kind of loss that leaves a team thinking about what it had in hand and how quickly it got away. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina's SEC Opener Reignited A Frustration Fans Know Too Well
South Carolinas SEC opener had all the makings of a confidence-building start before it turned into a familiar kind of frustration. The Gamecocks jumped out to a 16-point lead against Mississippi State and looked in control early, but the game shifted as the Bulldogs settled in and the home crowd watched a lead slip away.
Kamario Taylors four touchdown passes powered Mississippi States comeback in a 41-34 win, and South Carolina never found a steady answer after halftime. LaNorris Sellers threw two interceptions in the second half, the offense managed only five yards in the third quarter, and what began as a strong opening became another reminder of how quickly an SEC game can turn. [Read more 🡒]