Jordan Rodgers puts Alabama on upset alert at South Carolina

Alabama gets a bit of a break (or as much of a break as you can get in the SEC) this weekend when it travels to South Carolina for a clash with an unranked opponent for the first time in five weeks. The Crimson Tide have climbed all the way to No. 4 in the AP Poll after rattling off four consecutive wins over ranked opponents: No. 5 Georgia, No. 16 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Missouri and No. 11 Tennessee.

Meanwhile, South Carolina has dropped four of its last five games after opening the season with a 2-0 record. This game is equally as important for Shane Beamer‘s program, as it would have to win three of its final four games (No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 3 Texas A&M, Coastal Carolina and Clemson) to clinch bowl eligibility with a loss to the Crimson Tide in Columbia.

Ahead of that matchup, ESPN‘s Jordan Rodgers joined ‘Get Up‘ Friday morning to proclaim that No. 4 Alabama could be on Upset Alert this weekend in Columbia. Last season, the Tide held off LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks 27-25 in Tuscaloosa.

“Alabama’s a better football team but for two reasons I think they can be on upset alert,” Rodgers said. “The first is that they’re coming off four straight ranked opponents. All wins, but can you maintain the mentality and focus that you need for that fifth win in a row against a team you probably should beat? And second, there’s two guys on the other side of the football field for South Carolina that are elite.”

South Carolina’s last victory over Alabama came in 2010

“Dylan Stewart is one of the most elite, talented pass-rushers in the county,” Rodgers continued. “He’s a game wrecker. And LaNorris Sellers has had his ups and downs, but at the end of the day, he’s one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the country, period. He can change the game at any moment. So with those two guys, you just never know. Alabama’s got to bring it.”

In the loss last season, Sellers passed for 238 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His strong 2024 season set him up for Heisman Trophy expectations this year, but he just hasn’t played anywhere near that level. Sellers, who has been a bit banged up this season, boasts just 1,134 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and two interceptions across seven games.

Alabama owns the all-time series 12-4 and has won the last two meetings between the two programs. South Carolina‘s last win came at home in 2010, when the No. 19-ranked Gamecocks knocked off the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide in Columbia 35-21. They will be looking to repeat that historic upset this weekend at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ABC.