South Carolina Football Set for SEC Opener Against Vanderbilt
South Carolina returns to Williams-Brice Stadium this weekend for another primetime showdown, this time against a familiar SEC foe.
The No. 11 Gamecocks (2-0) will face Vanderbilt (2-0) in their conference opener Saturday night. Shane Beamer’s squad enters the matchup fresh off a 38-10 win over S.C. State, while the Commodores are riding momentum after a convincing 44-20 victory at Virginia Tech. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network.
Game Details
- Who: No. 11 South Carolina (2-0) vs. Vanderbilt (2-0)
- When: 7:45 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
- TV: SEC Network
- Stream: ESPN.com / ESPN app
- Radio: 107.5 FM locally (Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker); SiriusXM 161/190; Elite Media Radio nationally (Mike Morgan, Chuck Oliver)
- Series: South Carolina leads 30-4 (last meeting 2024)
Odds and Analytics
The Gamecocks opened as 8.5-point favorites, but oddsmakers have since tightened the line. Most sportsbooks list USC as a 4 to 4.5-point favorite. ESPN Analytics gives South Carolina a 65% chance to win.
Injury Report
According to the SEC’s availability report:
- Out: DB Judge Collier
- Probable: TE Brady Hunt
- Defensive backs Vicari Swain, Brandon Cisse, and Jaquel Holman, who were listed as probable earlier in the week, have been cleared for Saturday.
Weather Outlook
Unlike last weekend’s lengthy weather delay, conditions look favorable. Fans can expect mid-80s temps during tailgating, mid-to-upper 70s at kickoff, and upper 60s by the end of the game. Rain chances are minimal.
Key Storylines
- Streak on the line: South Carolina has beaten Vanderbilt 16 straight times, the longest streak against any opponent in program history. The Commodores last topped USC in 2008.
- “Circled” matchup: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia made headlines this summer when he admitted the South Carolina game was “circled” on his schedule. While Gamecock fans bristled, Beamer’s players haven’t taken the comments publically to heart. Pavia, limited in last year’s 28-7 loss, will be looking for redemption.
- SEC opener pressure: USC is aiming for its second straight conference-opening win after ending a six-year drought last season. A victory would also mark the Gamecocks’ first 3-0 start since 2012.
Players to Watch
- USC DB Vicari Swain: Electric on special teams, Swain scored two punt return TDs last week and earned SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His three return scores this season tie a program record set in 1971.
- USC WR Vandrevius Jacobs: The redshirt sophomore broke through against S.C. State, grabbing his first career touchdown and leading the team with 57 yards on four catches.
- Vandy QB Diego Pavia: A dual-threat weapon, Pavia racked up over 3,000 yards of offense and 28 TDs last season. Through two games in 2025, he’s thrown for 468 yards and five scores.
- Vandy TE Eli Stowers: The All-SEC tight end paced Vanderbilt in 2024 with 638 yards and five touchdowns. He’s expected to be a major target again.
South Carolina 2025 Schedule
- Aug. 31: vs. Virginia Tech – W 24-11
- Sept. 6: vs. S.C. State – W 38-10
- Sept. 13: vs. Vanderbilt – 7:45 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Sept. 20: at Missouri – 7/7:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)
- Sept. 27: vs. Kentucky – TBD/Flex
- Oct. 11: at LSU – TBD/Flex
- Oct. 18: vs. Oklahoma – TBD/Early
- Oct. 25: vs. Alabama – TBD/Flex
- Nov. 1: at Ole Miss – TBD/Flex
- Nov. 15: at Texas A&M – TBD/Early
- Nov. 22: vs. Coastal Carolina – TBD/Afternoon
- Nov. 29: vs. Clemson – Noon (ABC/ESPN)
