Could Kentucky running back Seth McGowan have a chance for another big game at South Carolina? (Vicky Graff Photo)
It was just a few weeks ago that South Carolina was ranked 10th in the country and considered a potential college football playoff team coming off a 9-3 season in 2024. South Carolina was picked to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference with quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive lineman Dylan Stewart were both first-team all-SEC picks.
However, the Gamecocks are now 0-2 in Southeastern Conference play going into Saturday night’s game against visiting Kentucky and reeling.
Coach Shame Beamer’s team got blown out 31-7 at home by Vanderbilt after Sellers was injured in the game and then lost 29-29 at No. 23 Missouri last week.
Kentucky has not exactly been a force in SEC play and has lost eight straight games, including one at home to Ole Miss in week two this season. That’s why the Wildcats are about a touchdown underdog for Saturday night’s game.
However, if you are a Kentucky fan — or player — there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic.
— South Carolina has minus nine yards rushing against Missouri. That’s right, minus nine. South Carolina gained 39 rushing yards but lost 48. Most of those lost yards came on Missouri’s five sacks of Sellers.
“When you get out-rushed 285 to minus nine, you’re not gonna win,” Beamer said.
— Yes, Missouri ran the ball 48 times for 285 yards, a stat that UK’s revamped offensive line and running back Seth McGowan had to love. Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy ran for 138 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
“Just really, really, really disappointing. You’ve gotta get 11 hats to the ball on this guy (Hardy) and tackle him. Give them credit. When you run for 285, you run for 285,” Beamer said. “But a lot of those are because of missed tackles, losing leverage or whatever it might be. All 11 gotta get there.”
— South Carolina amassed14 penalties (nine on offense, five on defense) for 98 yards against Missouri. Six of South Carolina’s pre-snap penalties were for false starts.
“When you have 14 penalties, it’s going to be hard to win,” Beamer said. “I think it’s hard to say it’s one bad night when we’ve had the number of pre-snap penalties that we’ve had. The definition of insanity is continuing the same thing over and over again. When you have 14 penalties on the road, something’s gotta change. Starting with me.”
And after South Carolina hosts Kentucky, the Gamecocks will play five straight top-20 matchups from October 11 through November 15, including three against top 10 teams.
“We’re 2-2, we’re a third of the way through the regular season. We are not where we need to be right now. We are coming back home on Saturday night for another SEC game. We need to get better this week and that’s all you can do,” Beamer said after the Missouri loss.
“Sit here and look at where you can be better at and continue to attack that and work. We have been a team that always gotten better as the season goes and confident that this year will be no different. Nobody thought that we would be sitting here at 2-2.”
Yet South Carolina was leading going into the fourth quarter at Missouri and don’t forget the Gamecocks have two straight wins over UK, including a beatdown in Lexington last year.
“We know the schedule doesn’t get any easier,” Beamer said after Saturday’s game. “But at the same time, to have so many things that aren’t winning football tonight and still have the lead going into the fourth quarter, it’s one of those where you think, ’OK, if we can continue to get better and clean a lot of this stuff up, then we have a chance to be the team that we thought we were going to be.’”
18 Responses
Wouldn't be surprised if UK comes out and lets SC look like a top 10 team. It would be par for the course after a Bye week.
Also, Stoops has put more QBs on Heisman Watch than any other active coach. They only problem is they didn't play for UK.
I remember when Stoops beat a Heisman winning QB on his home field as a 27.5 point underdog.
That was a great win, but he has made more look great than he has beaten!
It is hard to be optimistic with Stoops and Hamdan trying to run the show.
So true!
You’re absolutely right!
After a 1 week bye,
The numbers don’t lie.
You’re absolutely right!
It’s an all too familiar event.
After a 1 week bye,
The numbers don’t lie.
Arkansas is on the verge of firing Pittman. They will definitely be interested in hiring Sumrall. If offered the job, Sumrall will take it. If we have any interest in having Sumrall coach here next year, we need to get the wheels turning. A win at South Carolina buys Stoops more time. A loss generates a pink slip and behind the scene discussions take place with his replacement.
Well…. I watched Kiffin and Ole Miss put a beat down on Sumrall and Tulane. A 35 point beat down.
Well yeah Jimmy, but that was Tulane.
If Sumrall is so great he should have had a scheme good enough to loose by 14 or 21, not 35. Cats lost by 7 and had a shot. He had 0 wins against Major conferences until this year. All his wins were against what you guys would call cupcakes if the Cats were playing them. By the way ALL Major teams plays "cupcakes" every year. He has beaten Northwestern and Duke this year. To bad they don't play Clemson this year. Anyway…..they turn around and get hammered by 35 by a real conference team. Sumrall is not the Savior you all are looking for.
Got to remember Sumrall does not have same resources at Tulane that ole miss has
I'm really concerned about our secondary. They didn't look real sharp last week. Secondly, our receivers have to start to get open or we're toast.
That is a major difference.
The secondary has been second rate for slseverql years, giving up 3rd & long far too often.
The receivers have not lived up to their expectations for several years, coinciding with the multi-year program slide.
I think this will be a single score game, and USC will come out on top. I would guess 5 points, about 26-21.
Sounds about right.