Game 2 Preview: Scouting the SC State Bulldogs

South Carolina, like every football team in the country, is looking to go 1-0 each week of the season.

The Gamecocks got the job done last Sunday in a 24-11 win over Virginia Tech. On Saturday, they will be looking to do the same against SC State, the first of three in-state opponents on their 2025 schedule.

Before the game kicks off at 7 p.m. on SEC Network Plus, here’s what the Bulldogs bring to the table.

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How they got here

SC State has the distinction of being the lone team from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) that South Carolina will play this season. By no means will the Bulldogs be a pushover, though.

Last year, SC State finished the regular season with a 9-2 record, including a perfect 5-0 mark against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) competition. The Bulldogs began the campaign 1-2 (with losses to Florida A&M and Georgia Southern) but stormed their way to an eight-game winning streak that carried into the postseason.

Rather than earning a spot in the FCS playoffs, SC State participated in the Celebration Bowl. The only bowl game played by FCS teams, the event serves as a celebration of HBCU football and involves the winners of the MEAC and the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Bulldogs faced off against Jackson State, which won its first Celebration Bowl in three tries by a 28-7 score.

SC State had an entire offseason to dwell on that defeat and reversed its fortunes in its 2025 season opener on Saturday, earning a 16-15 victory over Wofford.

Last time out

The Gamecocks’ and Bulldogs’ last meeting took place in 2022. When the game rolled around in late September, football was not the only thing on South Carolinians’ minds — the threat of Hurricane Ian was very real, and sporting events were being canceled left and right.

Thankfully, both teams got the game in before storms blew through the Columbia area. Originally scheduled for a Saturday, the regular-season contest was rescheduled for a Thursday night (Sept. 29) at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The oncoming hurricane didn’t seem to dampen South Carolina’s weekly routine, as it dominated SC State in a 50-10 win. Spencer Rattler led the Gamecocks’ offense, completing 21 of his 27 pass attempts (77.8%) for 212 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also added 31 rushing yards and another score on the ground.

One of the game’s more notable moments occurred in the first quarter. After Rattler threw a touchdown pass to MarShawn Lloyd, Tonka Hemingway lined up under center on the ensuing two-point attempt. He caught the direct snap and ran two yards into the end zone for a successful conversion.

Where they sit in the rankings

The Bulldogs are not ranked in either the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 or the FCS Coaches polls. They did, however, receive votes in both.

SC State received 30 points in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, placing them 39th in the subdivision if the rankings extended beyond 25 teams. The Bulldogs found themselves much closer to the top 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll — with 40 points, they were 29th.

SC State is currently tied for first in the MEAC standings. Here’s where teams in the conference stand heading into the second weekend of FCS action:

1. Howard (1-0, 0-0 MEAC)
2. SC State (1-0, 0-0 MEAC)
3. NC Central (1-1, 0-0 MEAC)
4. Delaware State (0-1, 0-0 MEAC)
5. Morgan State (0-1, 0-0 MEAC)
6. Norfolk State (0-1, 0-0 MEAC)

ESPN gives the Bulldogs a 1.0 percent chance to win this weekend. While there aren’t any betting odds for this game, SC State will come in as a massive underdog.

Players to watch

Quarterbacks William Atkins IV (Graduate student) and Ryan Stubblefield (Redshirt senior) — The Bulldogs possess a two-headed monster under center with Atkins IV and Stubblefield, both of whom were used in their season opener. Atkins IV, a transfer from James Madison, completed 19-of-34 passes for 181 yards. Stubblefield, now in his second season with SC State after transferring from Incarnate Word, completed 10-of-17 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown.

KZ Adams (Redshirt junior, running back) — Saturday’s game will serve as a homecoming of sorts for Adams. A native of West Columbia, he played at Gray Collegiate Academy before committing to Georgia State in 2021. Adams received the highest volume of touches among the Bulldogs’ running backs last week, gaining 39 yards on 14 attempts. He also caught two passes for an additional five yards.

Mike Lunz (Graduate student, defensive end) — Previously a member of Tulane’s football program, Lunz was SC State’s most productive defensive player in the team’s season opener. He led the Bulldogs in both tackles for loss (2.5) and sacks (2.0) and finished second in total tackles (5).

Path to victory

South Carolina heads into this contest as the overwhelming favorite, but anything can happen after the opening kickoff. Bigger upsets have taken place in the history of college football — think back to Appalachian State’s win over then-No. 5 Michigan in 2007. Because of this, the Gamecocks can’t underestimate a team widely considered to be an inferior opponent. Beating who you’re supposed to beat will pay dividends later in the season.

On offense, SC State will be looking to keep South Carolina’s defense on its toes with two dual-threat quarterbacks. Subbing them in between drives, and even individual plays, has the potential to throw off the Gamecocks’ rhythm, which is why preparing meticulously for both Atkins IV’s and Stubblefield’s tendencies will be to the home team’s benefit.

It will also behoove South Carolina to neutralize the Bulldogs’ passing game, regardless of who’s under center. SC State running backs and quarterbacks ran the ball 40 times against Wofford and gained just 99 yards, good for a 2.5-yard average. If the Gamecocks’ secondary can maintain tight coverage on the Bulldogs’ receivers, it may force SC State to run the ball more often, leading to quicker possessions.

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