The South Carolina are nearly set to kick off their 2026 season after a 4-8 season in Columbia. As the Gamecocks look to reload this year under sixth-year head coach Shane Beamer, South Carolina has to navigate a tough schedule.
As we preview the upcoming season in Columbia, we have been breaking down each and every opponent on South Carolina's schedule. In Week 4 on Sept. 26, the Gamecocks will go on the road to face the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Let's break down what the road trip to Tuscaloosa will hold for Coach Beamer and his team.
Opponent Preview: Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide finished 11-4 last season. The Tide earned a College Football Playoff bid despite losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship game. Although Alabama went on the road and won a come-from-behind first-round against Oklahoma, Indiana ended the Tide's season after a dominant 38-3 victory in the Rose Bowl.
As Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer enters his fourth season in Tuscaloosa, he'll be looking to bring the Tide to an even deeper CFP run. At quarterback, Alabama has decided to go with redshirt freshman Keelon Russell under center this season.
Russell was a former five-star quarterback prospect out of Duncanville High School in Texas. Per the 247Sports Composite, he was the No. 2 overall quarterback from the class of 2025, and the No. 1 overall prospect from his home state.
Across two seasons tracked by MaxPreps, he had 7,444 yards passing with 90 touchdowns and just seven total interceptions. 247Sports cited him as having the best completion percentage in the country, at 70.8% during his high school football career. He had another 625 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He completed just 11 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns last season behind Ty Simpson.
Russell will have plenty of weapons around him, as the Tide gets back star wide receiver Ryan Williams from last season. He finished second on the team in receiving last season, getting 49 receptions for 689 yards and four scores. He averaged a team-high 14.1 yards per catch, too. Also retuning are receiver Lotzeir Brooks and Rico Scott, and true freshman receiver Cederian Morgan is so talented that he will see the field early.
At running back, the Tide return Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley, and true freshman EJ Crowell will likely see the field, as well. Defensively, the TIde return seven starters from a unit that looks to improve after allowing 19.2 points per game last season. The biggest returnee is safety Bray Hubbard, who had 79 tackles and four interceptions last season. Alabama also added Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson who should add experience to a linebacking corps that lost leading tacklers Deonte Lawson and Justin Jefferson.
Alabama is not in the preseason Top-10 for the first time since 2008. As a result, the Tide could play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder early and fly under the radar.
Key statistics to know
If you're one to read into recent history against the Tide, it's not the best track record for Coach Beamer against Alabama. He is 0-2 against Alabama, although both losses were one-score games.
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Against the Tide at home last year, the Gamecocks even led 22-14 in the fourth quarter, but gave up two touchdowns to the Tide in the last 2:16 of the game.
If South Carolina's 27-25 2024 result in Tuscaloosa is any indication, the Gamecocks proved they can play well against the Tide on the road. But getting a win over Alabama for the first time since 2010 is a big challenge.
Alabama plays Florida State at home the week before the Gamecocks, looking to avenge an upset loss from last season. That game will be a good indicator of just how good this Alabama team is.
South Carolina vs. Alabama game details
- When: Saturday, Sept. 26
- Kickoff time: Night kickoff, time TBA
- Live TV/Streaming: TBD
South Carolina's first SEC road trip to Alabama will be on the last Saturday in September. At this time, the SEC has designated it as a night kickoff slot for the game
South Carolina vs. Alabama prediction
Alabama 38, South Carolina 35
If this game were in Columbia, I'd have the score flipped with the Gamecocks getting the three-point win. But since this one will be in Tuscaloosa at night, I think South Carolina will play well, but Alabaam pulls out a close one on a last-second field goal.
South Carolina opponent preview: Mississippi State
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