Gamecocks Open Season With Shutout Victory

It is the dawn of an era of a lot of “new” in Columbia, SC. A new college football season. New changes to Williams-Brice Stadium. A new look offense with a new coordinator. And last, but certainly not least, the renewed cautious optimism that comes with the start of every season for fans of South Carolina football. 

The Gamecocks opened their 2026 season Saturday afternoon, debuting renovated concourses, concession areas, restrooms, and student hospitality areas that were all a part of phase one of the multi-year “Williams-Brice reimagined” project. 

But, much more than the upgrades to the stadium, the fans — who had to endure the hottest game in program history (seriously, if you were there and stuck it out until the end without succumbing to the oppressive heat, you deserve financial compensation of some sort..), were anticipating the debut of new Offensive Coordinator Kendall Briles’ scheme with optimism that things would look much better. After all, surely it could not get any worse than what Mike Shula was running last year, right? Right?!?! 

Well, I have to admit that the first drive was over reacted to by a lot of fans (myself included). The Gamecocks picked up a first down, picking up 18 yards of total offense on their opening series, but ultimately, the offensive line struggled to protect — particularly on third and long, which led to LaNorris Sellers being sacked for the first time this season and a punt after seven plays. I remember thinking “Oh here we go again” and then taking a scroll through the often depressingly dark world that is ‘gamecock twitter’ and seeing a lot of people saying the same thing. 

Fortunately, that was the only time Sellers was brought to the turf the rest of the game. The court of fan opinion changed their verdict almost as quickly as the weather did from Sunday into Monday (how’d we go from record heat at kickoff to the 70s in a span of two days?) when South Carolina drove 87 yards in seven plays on their second possession. The offensive line blocked much better, and the drive featured a balanced mix of good runs from Matt Fuller (who capped the march with a seven yard touchdown run), and a couple of nice passes — a 10 yard screen to Brady Hunt and a 13 yard catch and run by Nyck Harbor on which he would have scored had it not been for stepping out at the seven yard line. 

From that point on, the Gamecocks dominated. Sellers had over 200 passing yards and a pair of TDs at the end of the first half with eight different pass catchers hauling in at least one reception. Five of those eight had double digit yardage. The run game was just as strong with three running backs tallying double digits in yardage — two of them with a touchdown. By the time the clock hit triple zeros, after a fourth quarter that was shortened to 10 minutes I may add, Carolina had amassed 645 yards of total offense on 72 plays — which comes to an average of nine yards per play. Of those total yards, 367 came via the pass and 278 came via the run game. Sellers was 19 for 23 passing with 270 yards and three touchdowns. Cutter Woods also went six of eight through the air for 73 yards and a score. 

South Carolina finished with five ball carriers over 20 yards. Jabree Coleman rushed for 77 yards and a couple of TDs — one of which was an explosive 60 yard run, on four touches. Fuller tallied 74 yards and a score on 10 carries. Jawarn Howell added 62 on nine attempts while Isaiah Augustave amassed 43 and a touchdown on eight carries. 

“Beamer Ball” made its first appearance of the season on a two point conversion after South Carolina’s second touchdown of the game. 

The Gamecocks’ defense pitched a shutout, holding the Golden Flashes to 179 yards of total offense on just 48 plays, averaging less than four yards per snap. The defense forced one turnover — an interception by Kosci Barnes, and had just one sack by Anthony Addison. But, the defense also forced eight punts on the day in a more than convincing 57-0 victory. 

So what are the key takeaways here? The obvious direction many people on the outside will be quick to go is to say “Well, it was just Kent State. They are one of the worst teams in D1 football.” 

That take is not wrong. But it is ignorant and weak. The South Carolina fans that live and die with every snap of every game know that if these two played to open last season, the Gamecocks would be fortunate to come up with a pick six and/or a punt return touchdown to seal a late 20-13 or so win over an opponent they should have destroyed on paper. 

That is the real take here. South Carolina dominated — and shut out. a weaker opponent in a season opener the way they were supposed to. They have not shut an opponent out since Shane Beamer’s first game in 2021 when Carolina stomped FCS Eastern Illinois. This also marked their largest margin of victory at home since the 2019 opener when the Gamecocks beat another FCS team — Charleston Southern, 72-10. 

Case/Point: the Gamecocks did what they were supposed to do and they more than met most fan expectations. They beat the brakes off someone — also something they have not done in a while. That is a huge positive and should not be dismissed just because they were playing Kent State. 

Will they put up numbers like that every week? Obviously not. But, the offense showed clear signs of the life it lacked a year ago. The only thing besides the opening drive that can be poo-poo’d is the fact Sellers did not run the ball much. But, I have to be frank. He did not need to for the offense to have the success it did. We all want to see the 2024 Sellers that broke ankles and looked superhuman when his wheels were turning.But, that is the beauty of a season opener. 

There will always be over reactions and dumb assumptions. To assume Briles does not have some big-time designed runs up his sleeve for Sellers would certainly be one of those asinine takes. You never show your full hand right after it’s been dealt. It is early and as we get into the tougher games on the schedule, I believe we will see the true dual threat LaNorris Sellers we all know and love. 

One other talking point: the fans didn’t hang around. Nobody is really crapping them for that. It is wild to see an entire stadium empty at halftime. But, in the ‘Famously Hot’ city of Columbia, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone die-hard enough to sit through a blowout in a 110+ degree heat index. Even the most stubborn of college students would rather head on down to Five Points and ‘re-hydrate’ if you catch my drift. 

The question going forward is simple. Can South Carolina do it again this week against another opponent they vastly outmatch? We will hold out hope they do with anticipation as they take on Towson in their first night game (which should help keep fans around a little longer).