It’s official: The Gamecocks are finalizing the details to hire Kendal Briles as the new offensive coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks. After months of speculation, Shane Beamer is finally filling the most critical vacancy on his staff, signaling a bold new direction for a program desperate to reignite its offense. Gamecock Nation can breathe a little easier as the architects of a high-octane, modern SEC-ready offense are ready to head to Columbia.
Sources: South Carolina is finalizing a deal to hire TCU’s Kendal Briles as the school’s new offensive coordinator. An agreement is expected to come together in the near future. pic.twitter.com/zSxakxVZGb
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 9, 2025
Why Hiring Kendal Briles Matters for South Carolina
Under Mike Shula, the Gamecocks limped to averages of 22.7 points per game and roughly 336.3 yards per game, ranking near the bottom of the SEC. Third-down conversion rate sank to just over 31% as drives stalled and red-zone trips rarely ended in touchdowns. It was a soulless offense that never clicked all season.
Consistency, explosiveness, and adaptability were all missing on the O-line. The squad lacked identity. Fans tolerated the few flashes, but the overall feeling for the season was frustration.
Enter Briles: A Blueprint for Revival
Kendal Briles has helped build some of the nation's most efficient offenses. At previous stops including TCU and Arkansas, his systems have combined efficient passing game with a pounding run game.
Briles has the ability to bring a balanced, tempo-driven, modern offense in Columbia. It's not a tweak in the offense, it's not getting better in practice, it's a full re-imagining. And with projected increase of points per game, total yards, passing yardage, better third and fourth down efficiencies, things are looking bright on the horizon. And this change was long overdue.
The Good, The Possible, and The Big “If…”
What this hire could mean for South Carolina:
- Re-energize a stagnant offense with the kind of run and pass balance that wears down defenses and keeps game well within reach. No more blowing 27-point leads.
- Give quarterback and skill players a system built around their strengths.
- Reset fan expectations and loyalty by giving them something to believe in. Bringing the stadium energy back. The hope.
What still needs to go right:
- The offensive line issues have haunted South Carolina, and no coordinator can magically fix bad blocking. If the trenches don't improve, even the best scheme will falter and fail.
- There needs to be scheme buy-in, followed by execution and continuity. And of course, with the turnover in staff, introducing a new system won't be easy.
- Most importantly, the margin for error in the SEC is small, so the growing pains will be there. Patience is key.
Proceed With Cautious Optimism
The hiring of Briles signals ambition and urgency. For Gamecock fans starved for an offense that delivers, this might just be the return to balance that the program needs.
But let's not pretend it's an overnight change or a guarantee. This is a gamble. Wanting it to work while waiting for the other shoe to drop is part of being a Gamecock fan. If all goes well, the 2026 season could feel like a rebirth.