FAIREY CHEVROLET Drive to Game Eight: Everything you need to know heading into South Carolina-Alabama

South Carolina football is 3-4 overall and holds a 1-4 mark in conference play. The Gamecocks have lost four of their last five games, including an ugly 26-7 affair in Williams-Brice Stadium against the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday.

This week, Shane Beamer’s team will be at home again for another non-night game. The Alabama Crimson Tide will be in town for the first time since 2019, and Kalen DeBoer’s squad has its eyes set on an SEC Championship and College Football Playoff run.

Because Carolina plays at home again, fans of the garnet and black won’t have to drive very far to see the Gamecocks try to get back on track on Saturday.

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Here’s what you need to know heading into game eight. (GamecockCentral will release an Alabama preview later in the week.)

The resumes

• After being ranked in the top 10 earlier this season, South Carolina is not even in the “also receiving votes” portion of the polls heading into this week. Alabama, on the other hand, is up to No. 4 in both the AP rankings and the coaches poll.
• South Carolina’s standing in the ESPN FPI (Football Power Index) took a dip after the Oklahoma loss. USC dropped nine spots to 30th overall. The Gamecocks also shifted down in offensive efficiency to No. 89 nationally. Defensively, they dropped to No. 31 in the country. Special teams, though, stayed put at No. 9. Alabama enters the weekend ranked No. 10 on offense, No. 13 on defense, and No. 86 on special teams
• Last season, South Carolina went 9-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. Alabama also went 9-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. So far this year, the Gamecocks are 3-4 (1-4), while the Crimson Tide are 6-1 (4-0).
• The Gamecocks put quarterback LaNorris Sellers, EDGE Dylan Stewart, and DB Jalon Kilgore on the preseason All-SEC squad. Meanwhile, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, offensive linemen Kadyn Proctor, Jaeden Roberts, and Parker Brailsford, running back Jam Miller, defensive linemen LT Overton and Tim Keenan III, linebacker Deontae Lawson, and defensive backs Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb, and Bray Hubbard made the preseason All-SEC squad.

Recent news

• South Carolina lost to Oklahoma last week, 26-7.
• Alabama smacked a good Tennessee team, 37-20.
• Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer let go of offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley following the LSU loss. Tight ends coach Shawn Elliott has shifted over to lead the position room, taking over a role he held for seven years under head coaches Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp. Former analyst Ben Burress has since taken over as the team’s tight ends coach.
• South Carolina and Miami have canceled their home-and-home series for 2026 and 2027. With the SEC and ACC moving to nine-game conference schedules, the game was an obvious cut from the future schedule.

Updates from the coaches

• South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer spoke to the media earlier this week.
  • During Beamer’s press conference, he shared a few things:
    • Beamer said that the team “is what we are,” seemingly reiterating the point he made this weekend that offensive coordinator Mike Shula’s job is safe. He said, “What we have on this team is what we are right now, and it’s not good enough, but we’ve got the people, the players, and the coaches to get it right this season.”
    • He also said that the Gamecocks continue to practice well in pursuit of righting the ship on the field.
    • Beamer shared that offensive lineman Cason Henry could be out for the season.
    • You can see everything that Beamer said here.
• The Gamecock coordinators also will speak to the media on Wednesday.
  • This story will update with links to their press conferences later in the week.
• Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer also spoke to the media this week. This story will update with his comments.
• Defensive line coach Travian Robertson, who was involved in a serious car accident this preseason, has recently gotten more involved with team activities. While he remains in a reduced role, defensive assistant Jordan Dove and assistant strength coach Jamil Walker have stepped into bigger roles.
• South Carolina has a new offensive coordinator this season, as Mike Shula, who was an analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024, has taken over for Dowell Loggains, who is now the head coach at Appalachian State. Alabama also has a new offensive coordinator, as Ryan Grubb moved over from the Seattle Seahawks.

Notes on game eight

• South Carolina and Alabama will play for the 18th time on Saturday. The game will mark the seventh trip to Columbia for the Crimson Tide.
• This weekend will be the University of South Carolina’s Homecoming game.
• USC will honor six new Athletics Hall of Fame members on Saturday. Natasha Hastings (Women’s Track 2005-2007), Brandon Hulko (Men’s Diving 1999-2002), Paul Jubb (Men’s Tennis 2016-2020), Akram Mahmoud (Men’s Swimming 2014-2018), Mollie Patton (Women’s Soccer 2006-2010), and A’ja Wilson (Women’s Basketball 2014-2018) will be recognized on the field.
• The 2010 SEC East Champions in football (who knocked off No. 1 Alabama) will celebrate their 15th anniversary this weekend.
• Three Gamecocks (linebackers Justin Okoronkwo, Colin Bryant, and Shawn Murphy) previously played at Alabama. Alabama assistant head coach/running backs coach Robert Gillespie was a former South Carolina assistant under Steve Spurrier. Gillespie and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer worked together at USC in 2007 and 2008.
• Last season, Alabama won by a score of 27-25 in Tuscaloosa.

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History

• Alabama owns the overall series advantage, 14-3. However, separate NCAA rules violations resulted in one forfeit and one vacated win for the Crimson Tide. The “official” record is 12-4, in favor of ‘Bama.
• South Carolina has won three of the past seven against Alabama, and one of the Tide’s wins during that span has been vacated for recruiting violations.
• The Gamecocks have beaten a top-5 Alabama team before, defeating the No. 1 Crimson Tide in 2010.
• Last season, Alabama won by a score of 27-25 in Tuscaloosa.

Injuries

• For the most part, head coach Shane Beamer’s injury update on Tuesday was positive. He said that all but one of the banged-up players “should all be good.”
• Beamer shared that he thinks offensive lineman Cason Henry will miss the rest of the season. The big right tackle has played in just four games, meaning he would be eligible to apply for a medical redshirt. Even without the redshirt, Henry has another year of eligibility remaining.
• EDGE Dylan Stewart, cornerbacks Brandon Cisse and Vicari Swain, defensive back Jalon Kilgore, defensive tackles Monkell Goodwine and Gabe Brownlow-Dindy, and offensive linemen Nick Sharpe, Tree Babalade, Shed Sarratt, Trovon Baugh, Nolan Hay, Markee Anderson, and Jatavius Shivers all entered the Oklahoma contest banged up or got hurt during the game.
• Wide receiver Brian Rowe, EDGE Anthony Addison, and defensive tackle Davonte Miles were suspended against Oklahoma but should be back this week.
• Though Beamer gave an update on the injured guys on Tuesday, there will be an SEC-mandated availability report on Wednesday.
• EDGE players George Wilson, Kobby Sakyi-Prah, and Jaylen Brown have long-term injuries, and so do defensive back Zahbari Sandy, offensive linemen Cason Henry and Ryan Brubaker, and defensive lineman Caleb Williams.

Depth chart movement for the Gamecocks

• South Carolina has not posted a new depth chart this week. You can see the most recent one here.
  • Most of the depth chart movement this season has come after the Gamecocks have already altered the rotation. That happened with the latest update before the Oklahoma game. Below are the notable changes before the team’s seventh game.
    • At running back, Matt Fuller is now listed as a co-starter with Rahsul Faison and Oscar Adaway.
    • At tight end, Maurice Brown is now listed as the backup at both spots following Michael Smith’s decision to leave the team. Smith is, obviously, no longer on the depth chart.
    • On the offensive line, Nolan Hay is now a co-starter at center with Boaz Stanley, and Rodney Newsom is the backup at left guard.
    • In the linebacker room, Justin Okoronkwo, who has started for multiple weeks, is now a listed starter, while Shawn Murphy is backing up Fred “JayR” Johnson, and Jaron Willis is backing up Okoronkwo.

How to watch/listen

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Television/Streaming

The Gamecocks and Crimson Tide will play on ABC this weekend. The ESPN app and ESPN+ will make the contest available via streaming, as well. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

The ABC crew will include Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), and Katie George (sideline reporter).

Radio

Nationally, Sirius XM will also have the game available on channel 84. Westwood One’s national crew of Nate Gatter (play-by-play) and Derek Rackley (analyst) will call the game, as well.

Locally, Todd Ellis (play-by-play), Tommy Suggs (analyst), and Chet Tucker (sideline reporter) will be on the call on 107.5 The Game.

Fans can also stream the radio broadcast on the 107.5 The Game app.

Local radio affiliates include:

Aiken/Augusta, GA WYBO-FM 92.9
Allendale WDOG-FM 93.5
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-AM 1350
Asheville, N.C. WZGM-FM 96.1
Camden WCAM-AM 1590
Charleston WTMZ-FM 98.9
Chesterfield WVSZ-FM 107.3
Columbia WNKT-FM 107.5
Florence WFRK-FM 95.3
Gaffney WZZQ-AM 1500
Gaffney WZZQ-FM 104.3
Greenville WROO-FM 104.9
Greenwood WCZZ-AM 1090
Marion, N.C. WBRM-AM 1250
Marion, N.C. WBRM-FM 103.9
Myrtle Beach WSEA-FM 100.3
Newberry WKDK-AM 1240
Rock Hill/Lancaster WRHM-FM 107.1
Spartanburg WSPG-AM 1400
Spartanburg WSPG-FM 98.3
Sumter WIBZ-FM 95.5
Union WBCU-AM 1460
Union WBCU-FM 103.5

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