After a heartbreaker at home against Alabama, the Gamecocks are once again looking to bounce back. South Carolina (3-5, 1-5 SEC) will travel to Oxford this weekend to face No. 11 Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN. This marks the Gamecocks' first trip to Oxford since 2020, and history hasn't been kind to them in recent meetings. Ole Miss holds a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last two matchups, including a 27-3 victory in Columbia last year. South Carolina's last win came in a 48-44 shootout in 2018, a reminder that when these teams meet in Oxford, drama is always a possibility.
Head coach Shane Beamer addressed the media this week, striking a familiar tone: determined, frustrated, and relentlessly optimistic. “We’re back at it with another opportunity this week to go compete,” he said. “Got a big challenge in Oxford. Lane has done a phenomenal job at Ole Miss of elevating that program and sustaining success year after year. It’s impressive. Credit to him.”
Simplifying the Offense
A major topic this week was the offense, specifically streamlining. It's something that Beamer and OC Mike Shula have been tinkering with after inconsistency plagued the unit since the start of the season. Beamer described a deliberate effort to trim the volume of plays on the call sheet, tightening focus on what the players execute best.“It wasn’t drastic,” Beamer said. “It wasn’t like we went from 90 plays to 40. Maybe 10 or 15 fewer than usual. That allows us to practice them more, see them against different defensive looks, and just play faster and cleaner.”
Beamer praised quarterback LaNorris and backup Luke Doty for their input, calling both "film junkies" who contribute ideas and adjustments during the game prep. Beamer emphasized that the simplification is about efficiency, not limitation: “We can just keep calling our top 20 plays because that’s really our best stuff.”
The Tempo Game
When asked about the pros and cons of playing with tempo, Beamer acknowledged the balancing act. “The teams that mix it up are the toughest to defend,” he said. “Ole Miss does that extremely well. They’ll slow down, huddle, and then suddenly snap it quick. That unpredictability keeps defenses off-balance.”
Beamer said South Carolina's offense also likes to shift gears, but it comes with trade-offs. Beamer said “If you go fast and go three-and-out, your defense is right back out there. It’s a weapon, but you’ve got to wield it wisely.”
Finishing Stronger
Perhaps the most telling theme of Beamer's commets was his irritation with the team's inability to close out games. South Carolina has led in the fourth quarter of multiple SEC matchups this season. Missouri and Alabama are among those games, only to falter late. “It’s maddening,” Beamer said. “We’ve been a good fourth-quarter team since I’ve been here. You can say ‘would’ve, could’ve, should’ve,’ but if we just finish against Missouri and Alabama, we’d have the same record as last year right now.”
He pointed to Ole Miss as an example of the kind of fourth-quarter execution he is chasing: “They were up on Georgia before the Bulldogs rallied, and then last week they flipped it on Oklahoma, outscoring them 9-0 in the fourth. That’s what winning programs do...dominate late.”
On a Potential Clemson Friday Game
Asked about the recent revelation that South Carolina's 2027 rivalry matchup with Clemson could move to Black Friday, Beamer offered a neutral response. “That was news to me,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve got more important matters right now than 2027.”
He also acknowledged the potential benefits, national exposure in prime time, but noted the concerns about overlapping with high school playoffs. “There are positives and drawbacks. I’m pretty indifferent at this point,” Beamer said.
Rising Star: The Other Sellers
Beamer lit up when talking about freshman receiver Jayden Sellers, who continues to earn more playing time. “He’s just a football player,” Beamer said. “The moment’s never too big for him. When the ball is in his hands, good things happen.”
Like his brother, LaNorris, Jayden's confidence seems to grow in Columbia. "He doesn’t say much,” Beamer added. “But when the lights come on, he hits another gear.”
The Road Ahead
The Gamecocks now face one of the SEC's most explosive teams in a hostile road environment. For South Carolina, the mission is simple but steep. The Gamecocks need to execute, finish, and rediscover the closing toughness that defined their best moments under Beamer.
If they can bottle up the promise of last week's near upset and pair it with sharper offensive rhythm, Oxford might offer more than just another test, it might offer a turning point for Carolina.