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FAIREY CHEVROLET Drive to Week Eight: Everything you need to know ahead of South Carolina's matchup with Oklahoma

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South Carolina football is 3-3 overall and holds a 1-3 mark in conference play. The Gamecocks have lost three of their previous four games but won their most recent contest at Williams-Brice Stadium against Kentucky.

This weekend, Carolina returns home for an early kick against the Oklahoma Sooners. Because the game is in Columbia, many Gamecock fans will just have to drive across town or across the Palmetto State this Saturday.

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Here’s what you need to know heading into week eight. (GamecockCentral will release an Oklahoma 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 week eight. Oklahoma, on the other hand, pushed as high as No. 5 in the rankings before slipping to No. 14 in the AP poll and No. 13 in the coaches poll following a Red River Shootout loss to the Texas Longhorns.
  • The ESPN FPI numbers didn’t change much for the Gamecocks from last week, as Shane Beamer’s group shifted from 29th nationally to 30th. USC moved up the ranks in the metric’s offensive efficiency rate (No. 76) and defensive efficiency (No. 26) and then shifted down just one spot in special teams efficiency (No. 9). Oklahoma is also 46th nationally on offense, 11th on defense, and 14th on special teams.
  • Last season, South Carolina went 9-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. Oklahoma, meanwhile, went 6-7 and 2-6 in the SEC. So far this year, the Gamecocks are 3-3 (1-3), while the Sooners are 5-1 (1-1).
  • The Gamecocks put quarterback LaNorris Sellers, EDGE Dylan Stewart, and DB Jalon Kilgore on the preseason All-SEC squad. Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott, defensive lineman R Mason Thomas, and long snapper Ben Anderson made the preseason All-SEC team.

Recent news

  • South Carolina lost to LSU last week, 20-10.
  • Oklahoma lost to Texas last week, 23-6.
  • 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.
  • Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer had surgery on his hand three weeks ago and then returned for the game against Texas. He was bleeding from his incision and threw three interceptions in the contest. He has been practicing full-go this week.
  • 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:
      • He acknowledged the difference in style between the coaching philosophies of outgoing offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley and “new” coach Shawn Elliott. Elliott’s intense personality demands passion and physicality, and Beamer hopes that the new voice and a few tweaks can spark the offensive line room to play up to its potential.
      • Beamer pointed out the similarities to this team’s place and the spot the 2024 team was in before its turnaround. Like this fall, Carolina was 3-3 following a stretch of losing three of four games heading into the Oklahoma matchup.
      • You can see everything that Beamer said here.
  • The Gamecock coordinators also will speak to the media on Wednesday.
  • Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables 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. Oklahoma also replaced its offensive coordinator this offseason, as Ben Arbuckle came over from Washington State after Seth Littrell was fired. Though co-defensive coordinators Todd Bates and Jay Valai returned to Norman, head coach Brent Venables has taken over the defensive play-calling.
  • Shane Beamer was on staff at Oklahoma for three seasons as assistant head coach and tight ends coach from 2018-2020. Brent Venables was the defensive coordinator at Clemson for ten years from 2012-2021.

Notes on week eight

  • South Carolina and Oklahoma will play for the 2nd time ever on Saturday, and the SEC showdown will be the first trip to Williams-Brice Stadium for the Sooners.
  • This weekend will mark the Gamecocks’ first Saturday non-night game of the season. They played five night contests in a row and played the season opener on Sunday afternoon.
  • The Gamecocks beat the Sooners by a score of 35-9 last season. Carolina jumped out quickly thanks to three first quarter takeaways (including a pick-six and scoop-and-score from Nick Emmanwori and Tonka Hemingway, respectively).

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History

  • South Carolina won the only previous matchup between these two teams. Oklahoma just joined the SEC in 2024.
  • The Gamecocks won the 2024 matchup, 35-9.

Injuries

  • South Carolina had several players miss the LSU contest, including offensive linemen Cason Henry, Nolan Hay, and Markee Anderson. During the game, defensive tackles Gabe Brownlow-Dindy and Nick Barrett and defensive back Jalon Kilgore left the game but returned. Defensive back Brandon Cisse and left guard Shed Sarratt also exited with leg injuries and did not return. Defensive back Myles Norwood had been banged up but cleared for the LSU game; he did not play.
  • Head coach Shane Beamer declined to provide an update on his injured guys on Tuesday, but reminded the media that there will be an SEC-mandated availability report on Wednesday. Instead, he gave “all those guys that you want to know about” a “questionable” label.
  • On Wednesday, South Carolina listed offensive linemen Nolan Hay, Cason Henry, and Shed Sarratt as “doubtful.” Offensive lineman Markee Anderson and defensive tackle Gabe Brownlow-Dindy are “questionable.” Defensive back Brandon Cisse is “probable.”
  • EDGE players George Wilson, Kobby Sakyi-Prah, and Jaylen Brown have long-term injuries, and so do defensive back Zahbari Sandy, offensive lineman Ryan Brubaker, and defensive lineman Caleb Williams.

Depth chart movement for the Gamecocks

  • South Carolina posted a new depth chart this week. You can see the entire thing 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. Below are this week’s notable changes.
      • 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. Against LSU, Newsom started at center, but Stanley relieved him.
      • 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 Sooners will play on SEC Network this weekend. The ESPN app will make the contest available via streaming, as well. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m.

The ESPN crew will include Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline reporter).

Radio

Nationally, Sirius XM will also have the game available on channel 99 or 204. ESPN Radio will broadcast the game, too, with Marc Kestecher (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (analyst), and Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline reporter).

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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