The Verdict: Time to kick the 2025 door down

Did you know that Williams-Brice Stadium is sold out this weekend because everyone wants to see Diego Pavia? Did you know according to Commodore offensive linemen that Dylan Stewart is just “whatever”? Did you know Vanderbilt is the darling of the SEC? Did you know Carolina doesn’t have a chance against these guys? 

Well, I didn’t know any of that either until I started looking through social media and started listening to SEC football podcasts and radio shows. I didn’t know that Vanderbilt was that much better than Carolina. 

Your GamecockCentral membership starts at just $1 for the first week – and we’ll throw in a complimentary year of access to The Athletic.

If I was a Vanderbilt fan, I would love this Vanderbilt team. They are confident bordering on arrogant. They are a good football team bordering on being a really good football team. They have a great quarterback that at times is an elite quarterback. 

In 2024, Carolina decided enough was enough with the mediocre play and coming up short heading into the Oklahoma game. The Carolina defense feasted on the Sooner offense. It was a tail whooping in Norman. 

That same energy needs to be seen this Saturday in Williams-Brice Stadium. 

My buddy last week texted me and said that it looked like the offensive line was drunk. It looked like they were on something. Lethargic, unmotivated, out-worked – whatever description you wanted to give as long as it was pedestrian and disappointing would have worked. The offensive line has been a weakness of this South Carolina program for years if not decades. If I had the answer, I would send a letter to the football operations office. I don’t know the issue, but what I do know is if the issue is not addressed heading into SEC play, this team has no shot at matching their 2024-win total. 

Vanderbilt will be a good barometer on how SEC play may go for this Carolina team. Like many other teams we will face, Vanderbilt has an experienced, dynamic quarterback. Like many other teams we will face, Vanderbilt has utilized the transfer portal well to bolster its roster. Like many other teams we will face, Vanderbilt has confidence and revenge on its mind heading into its showdown with the Gamecocks. 

How does this team respond? How does this team handle the moment and the pressure and the intensity? After the 2024 Oklahoma game, Carolina kicked down the door of mediocrity. During the second half of the season, Carolina’s defense was fast, LaNorris Sellers played like one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, and Carolina was able to run the football much more efficiently. 

This game must be that type of moment for the 2025 Gamecocks. While this moment is much earlier in the season than it was in 2024, we already know that slip-ups in the first half of the season come back to haunt you. Close losses are nothing but losses. A good showing even in defeat against Vanderbilt is a notch against your playoff hopes. It’s time to kick the door down and beat a team that is confident, but beatable.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!