After a season-opening win over Virginia Tech, the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks return to Columbia to face FCS foe South Carolina State in their Week 2 matchup. The Gamecocks are heavy favorites and will look to iron out some offensive issues while giving young layers a chance to shine against an overmatched in-state opponent. Below is everything you need to know on how to watch the game, key takeaways and storylines for South Carolina as they head into the weekend.
How to Watch and Game Info
- Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM ET kickoff
- Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium (Columbia, SC)
- TV/Streaming: SEC Network+ / ESPN+ (digital stream), or you can sign up for a free account with FuboTV to watch.
- Announcers: Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)
- Records: South Carolina 1-0; South Carolina State 1-0
- Rankings: South Carolina is ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll after Week 1
South Carolina State is unranked in FCS.
Odds and Weather
The Gamecocks are expected to be an overwhelming favorite given the talent gap between the two programs. In Week 1, South Carolina was a 7-point favorite over Virginia Tech.
The forecast in Columbia, SC on Saturday evening calls for warm, late-summer conditions. Fans can expect temperatures in the low 80s, with a slight chance of an isolated shower, but generally conditions should be fair. By the second half, temperatures may dip into the 70s under the lights (with full expectation of a Sandstorm).
Injury Report for South Carolina
The Gamecocks will enter Saturday's matchup relatively healthy, although a couple of players were banged up in the opener.
- CB Judge Collier – Doubtful. Collier, a starting cornerback, left the Virginia Tech game early with a knee injury. Fortunately, tests showed no long-term damage. Shane Beamer said Collier is likely out this week as he recovers, though the injury is not as serious as initially feared. During the game on Sunday, Collier was seen on crutches on the sideline, but the team expects him back in the near future.
- DE Jatius “J.T.” Geer – Doubtful. The senior edge rusher recorded a sack against Virginia Tech before exiting in the second half with an apparent shoulder injury. Beamer indicated Geer is also doubtful to play against SC State, but like Collier, his issue isn’t considered long-term.
- WR Jared Brown – Questionable. Brown suited up in Week 1 and even went through warmups with the first team, but he was limited in practice leading up to the game and ultimately did not play significant snaps. The transfer from Coastal Carolina did not feel 100% during Week 1, so the staff held him back. It’s not a serious injury, and Brown could play this week if he’s back to full speed. If he’s still limited, freshman WR Vandrevius Jacobs (who started in Brown’s place last week) may see reps again.
- No other major injuries have been reported from the opener. Notably, sophomore TE Michael Smith was limited in practice last week due to a minor issue and coaching decisions (he played only one offensive snap), but he is physically fine. Smith could see more action moving forward. The Gamecocks also held out some backups with minor camp injuries as precautions, but nothing significant has been noted.
Series History
These two programs have only met a handful of time, with the South Carolina Gamecocks dominating the series.
- All-Time Record: South Carolina leads 3-0
- Last Meeting: 2022 in Columbia, where South Carolina defeated SC State 50–10. That specific game was actually moved up to a Thursday due to a hurricane.
- Prior Meetings: 2007 (38–3 South Carolina win) and 2009 (38–14 South Carolina win). All games have been played at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Saturday's matchup at Williams-Brice Stadium won't carry the same national weight as the Gamecocks' season opener in Atlanta, but it is still a crucial chance to sharpen execution of plays, test depth, and build momentum before SEC play ramps up.