Shane Beamer’s promise South Carolina will improve in 2026 resurfaces after Alabama loss

The South Carolina Gamecocks fell to 2-2 on Saturday, following an abysmal 49-18 loss to No. 8 Alabama on the road. In one of the most telling plays of the night, Gamecock star Dylan Stewart was so upset by how bad the Gamecocks were losing that he threw a punch after an Alabama touchdown. 

After the game, some of sixth-year head coach Shane Beamer's comments at the end of South Carolina's 4-8 season last year began to resurface. 

The clip making the rounds on social media was after the Gamecocks' 28-14 loss to rival Clemson at the end of last season. During his postgame presser, Coach Beamer was talking to reporters about South Carolina's outlook for 2026. 

In his comments, he said he "one billion percent promise" the Gamecocks will have a hell of a season in 2026. He added that he's looking forward to looking back on what his team went through last season to improve.  Let's just say they haven't exactly aged well:

As the clip points out, South Carolina's two losses to Mississippi State and Alabama essentially makes the Gamecocks' path to the CFP nearly impossible. South Carolina would have to win out against some of the best teams in the SEC, including Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. 

Time appears to be running out for Shane Beamer in Columbia

While there was some optimism surrounding South Carolina this offseason, thanks to Beamer's hires of offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and running backs coach Stan Drayton. South Carolina also landed several big-name transfer portal players. 

But through South Carolina's first four games, the overhauling of the Gamecocks' staff and roster have proved to not change all that much for this team. While there are several stats that can be pointed out from this Alabama loss, the story remains the same from the last game. 

South Carolina's offense simply cannot convert even its most successful of drives into points. In the Gamecocks' first two possessions, both drives went inside Alabama's 30. They resulted in a missed 45-yard field goal by Malik Orsan, and a turnover on downs after a failed 4th-and-2 conversion attempt that was snuffed out by Alabama's defense almost immediately. 

LaNorris Sellers is seemingly regressing in each game that he plays in, as he finished with 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception. South Carolina's defense also had no answer for Alabama's offense, allowing Keelon Russel and the Tide to score on each of its first four possessions in the first half. South Carolina's defense also gave up 489 yards of offense, and led Alabama finish 5-of-10 on third down.

South Carolina luckily gets to return home and face Kentucky next week, who enters this game 3-1. Given how poorly the Gamecocks have looked in the last two weeks, it's hard to see any game remaining on South Carolina's schedule as a penciled-in victory. 

Next Saturday's game will kick off at 4:15 p.m., and will air live on SEC Network.  

A'ja Wilson. Aliyah Boston and several former Gamecocks headline WNBA playoffs starting Sunday

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