Fresh off being minted a top-25 team in the country, the Gamecocks are back in action. Taking on Texas A&M on homecoming weekend, South Carolina is looking to make it four wins in a row and hopes to move up in those rankings.
This once lopsided matchup has become increasingly competitive since Shane Beamer has been head coach, as no team has won consecutive games since 2022. The home team has won each game in that same timeframe. Of course, Gamecock fans would rather soon forget what happened in this game last year, as the team had a historic collapse in the second half.
This year, the game is about competing for four quarters and continuing the trajectory that the team has been on. The last time we saw the Gamecocks in Williams-Brice Stadium, things ended with the fans storming the field; expect the stadium to be blaring Saturday afternoon.
On my podcast Cox Talking Gamecocks I outline the "crows to the game" every week. Why crows? Because everyone has keys to the game and we have our rooster crow, so why not? Let's get into it!
Offensive Crows
1. Next man up in the rushing attack: Running the ball has been a clear strength for the Gamecocks this year. The loss of Matthew Fuller cannot be overstated, as he was the clear RB1. And yet, life goes on in the SEC, and the Gamecocks' rushing attack has to continue to be relied upon.
Expect Jabree Coleman to be the starting back, but who takes the bulk of the carries outside of him? Isaiah Augustave ran hard against Oklahoma, but my under-the-radar pick would be Jarwarn Howell. Howell hasn’t gotten many touches this year, but he is a physically bigger back who is dangerous in space. Texas A&M has struggled to stop the run in SEC play, with multiple teams gashing them for over 150 yards. The Gamecocks have to aim to do the same.
2. Protect the ball: Coming off a game where LaNorris Sellers threw two interceptions, that has to be corrected. The Aggies' offense has struggled throughout the year, but giving any extra possessions to a dynamic talent like quarterback Marcel Reed could spell trouble for South Carolina. Protect the ball, move the chains, and dominate the field position battle.
Defensive Crows
1. Disrupt the quarterback: The aforementioned Reed has not looked like the quarterback who led A&M to a playoff berth just a year ago. Reed has eight interceptions through as many games, along with just eight touchdown passes. It’s imperative that the defensive line disrupts Reed’s timing to fluster him and force mistakes.
2. Explosive linebacker play: Linebackers Fred "JayR" Johnson, Shawn Murphy, and Justin Okoronkow have put together a really strong season thus far. Each player possesses incredible athleticism, and coordinator Clayton White understands how to put them in position to succeed. The Gamecocks will need solid, explosive linebacker performances to keep not only Reed in check, but the Aggies’ entire backfield.
South Carolina enters the contest as a touchdown favorite in the penultimate home game of the year. While the Aggies don’t have the record many expected them to, it is still a team that is littered with highly recruited players. The Gamecocks must continue to execute at a high level and leverage home-field advantage to continue their win streak.
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