The South Carolina Gamecocks' schedule in 2026 is considered to be one of the hardest schedules in the country. One game that stands out as a good measuring stick for both programs will come during South Carolina's Oct. 10 road trip to play the Florida Gators.Â
At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, new Florida head coach Jon Sumrall was asked about the challenges he has faced as he's taken over the Gator program. He had a revealing answer about the current state of his offensive line, which is drastically less experienced compared to some of his other position groups.Â
"We've only got two guys that really started football games at University of Florida that are returners, so it's a very new group, Sumrall said in Tampa on Wednesday. This is a line of scrimmage game. This is a line of scrimmage league. But I don't care what league you're in. You better be good on the line of scrimmage."
From last season, the Gators lost three starting offensive linemen. One of the biggest losses is All-American center Jake Slaughter, who was drafted in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Gators are also breaking in a new quarterback, with redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. expected to start under center. While Sumrall added that he is pleased with how well the group has worked this offseason, it sounds like it is one of the weaker units of Florida's offense experience-wise.Â
"We also through the spring rolled a lot of different combinations," Sumrall continued. I think the offensive line takes continuity, time to gel, the cohesion component of playing offensive line as a unit matters. We were mixing and matching so many different groupings that I don't know if it was fair to them in the spring to really assess where we'll play as a whole unit on the O-line come this fall because we were trying to find out which guys could be swing guys, and by that I mean tackle to guard or left side to right side or which guys can snap.
So you go out and watch the ones one day and didn't look like the ones the next day, so we'll settle on where we will go with who will start, who will be the first five."
While South Carolina did lose defensive linemen Nick Barrett and Monkell Goodwine from last season, there is plenty of experience returning for the Gamecocks on the defensive line. The unquestioned star of the group is EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart, who has combined for 11 sacks over his first two seasons. Transfers Caleb Herring and Drew Collins, as well as redshirt freshman Anthony Addison are expected to see time at the position, as well.Â
Starting defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy is returning next season, as well as defensive tackle Troy Pikes. The Gamecocks also landed Illinois transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye as well as Kelby Collins from Alabama this offseason. The Gamecocks defense had 21 sacks last season, but that number will likely have to improve next season.Â
October's South Carolina-Florida game is also the renewal of a pretty big SEC East rivalry. The two played each other consecutively from 1992-2023, with the Gators holding a 31-3-10 all-time lead in the series. South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer at SEC Media Days on Tuesday said he was excited to play Tennessee, Georgia and the Gators this season, after so many years of facing them in the now-defunct SEC East. Â
Coach Beamer won just one game in the three meetings he had against the Gators, winning 40-17 in 2021.Â
Beamer needs all the wins he can get if he wants to stick around after the 2026 season. Getting a big win on the road against Florida would put South Carolina in a great spot entering the back half of the schedule.Â
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