<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4TQiIc_1GmnFJbX00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TQiIc_1GmnFJbX00" width="2000" height="1500" ><figcaption>Head coach Shane Beamer shrugs after a false start call is made by the referees at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 24, 2026. After three losses at the start of the 2026 season, the Gamecocks have made a comeback with three straight wins, leaving a 3-3 record in the SEC.</figcaption></figure>The South Carolina Gamecocks have flipped the script of their season through eight weeks of play. After an overtime loss to Kentucky to fall to 2-3, the Gamecocks have won three consecutive games.Two of those three wins came over ranked opponents, including a road win over then-No. 16 Florida and a home win over then-No. 11 Tennessee.Coming off a dominant 42-25 win over the Oklahoma Sooners, it seems the Gamecocks have righted the wrongs that plagued their slow start.<h2>Early season struggles</h2>South Carolina's 2026 season began with three straight SEC losses, two of which were blown leads of over 14 points. The Gamecocks jumped out to an early 16-0 lead over breakout star sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State, but similar to the failures of 2025, the Gamecocks choked away a lead and fell 41-39.South Carolina then traveled to Tuscaloosa in search of a bounce-back win against the then-No. 9 Crimson Tide. Alabama overwhelmed the Gamecocks with 489 yards of total offense, including four consecutive drives that resulted in a touchdown. The Gamecocks fell 49-18 and moved to 2-2 on the season. What seemed to be the nail in the coffin came the following week, when the Gamecocks jumped out to a 17-point lead against the Kentucky Wildcats. However, South Carolina fell to Kentucky 35-34 in an overtime loss. During the Alma-Matter, fans and students alike broke out in a loud and unmistakable “Fire Beamer” chant. “Nobody expected to be two-and-three, and I’m well aware it is not good enough,” Beamer said.With seemingly nowhere to go but up, South Carolina walked into Gainesville to take on the then-No. 16 Gators and stunned the college football world with a dominant 38-19 win. <h2>Change in offensive philosophy</h2>Under first-year offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, the Gamecock’s offense has seen major mid-season improvements. Through eight games, Briles and his offense have garnered over 3,700 total offensive yards. In 2025, the Gamecocks, through eight games, managed only 2,417 yards, averaging 302 yards per game. South Carolina is averaging 464 yards per game, a mark good for the second-best in the SEC. A noticeable difference compared to last season is the higher and more effective use of the rushing aspect. Acquiring running back coach Stan Drayton from the Penn State Nittany Lions in December of 2025 has proven to be a key hire for the Gamecocks. Drayton has brought years of experience to the running back room, a group that was a near non-factor in the 2025 season. Drayton has coached football at the collegiate and professional levels since 1993. He has spent 14 of those years coaching running backs. Drayton has also spent two years in the National Football League as a running back coach for the Chicago Bears and an offensive quality control and special teams coach for the Green Bay Packers.Last season during his time at Penn State, the Lions rushed for 2,267 yards on the season along with 30 rushing touchdowns. Whereas last season, the Gamecocks managed only 1,333 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the season under its previous coach, Marquel Blackwell. In 2025, Rahsul Faison was the go-to running back for the Gamecocks. Faison had rushed for 470 yards on 96 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per run. Sophomore running back Matt Fuller has had a breakout season so far totaling 94 carries, nearly 20 more than his entire 2025 season. He has accumulated 530 total rush yards while averaging 5.6 yards per run. Senior quarterback LaNorris Sellers continues to make strides after a slow start to the season. Through eight weeks of play, Sellers has rushed for 603 yards on 98 carries, more than double his total of 270 yards from 2025. <h2>The stars are shining</h2>Sellers has appeared to have launched a mid-season campaign for the Heisman Trophy with his recent performances. Since the bye week, Sellers has thrown for 790 yards in the air and has rushed for 212 yards. He's totaled 13 touchdowns in just the last three games, eight by air and five on the ground with his legs. “He’s playing really well right now, and everybody feeds off that, certainly. And we just need him to continue to get better,” Beamer said.The South Carolina offense has been a bright spot this year, and it seems that the Sellers-Briles connection has clicked. Sellers and the offense are firing on all cylinders and proved it in their matchup against Oklahoma.“To come in here and put up 521 yards of offense against this defense, not many people have done that,” Beamer said. On the opposite side of the ball, junior defensive end Dylan Stewart has shown his worth since his incident against Alabama, which resulted in a one-game suspension. In his return game against Florida, he had four solo tackles, including a sack and two forced fumbles. This season, Stewart has totaled three forced fumbles, tying Gamecock legend Jadeveon Clowney’s school record of nine. In the victory against Tennessee, Stewart’s late-game sack of freshman quarterback George MacIntyer set up the game-winning field goal. Following their commanding win against Oklahoma, the Gamecocks have earned the honor of being ranked No. 23 by the Associated Press, their first AP ranking since early 2025. As selection day on Dec. 6 nears, the Gamecocks were ranked No. 21 in the nation by the College Football Playoff selection committee in the first round of weekly rankings Tuesday night. </div></body>

Show less about: NFL

Block Source: USC Gamecock

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

The South Carolina Gamecocks have flipped the script of their season through eight weeks of play. After an overtime loss to Kentucky to fall to 2-3, the Gamecocks have won three consecutive games. Two of those three wins came over ranked opponents, including a road win over then-No. 16 Florida...

Gamecocks flip script on season in return to AP Top 25

NewsBreak

The South Carolina Gamecocks have flipped the script of their season through eight weeks of play. After an overtime loss to Kentucky to fall to 2-3, the Ga

Gamecocks flip script on season in return to AP Top 25

Comments