Alabama Prepares for Dangerous Road Test Against Struggling South Carolina
Alabama football hits the road again this week, traveling to Columbia for an SEC clash that could prove trickier than the records suggest. The Crimson Tide are heavy favorites against a South Carolina team limping through a disappointing season, but history shows that Kalen DeBoer’s teams have occasionally stumbled in these kinds of games.
Despite its struggles, Shane Beamer’s South Carolina squad still possesses enough talent to make things uncomfortable for Alabama — especially as the Tide wrap up a grueling four-game stretch of high-intensity SEC competition.
A Rough Season in Columbia
Optimism was high around South Carolina entering 2025. The Gamecocks returned key starters, brought in promising recruits, and carried legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations. But those hopes quickly faded as the season unfolded.
At 3-4 overall (1-4 SEC), South Carolina has fallen far short of expectations. The Gamecocks opened the year with a solid win over Virginia Tech — a program that later fired its head coach, Brent Pry — but since then, things have unraveled. Their only conference victory came against Kentucky in late September.
Normally, Williams-Brice Stadium provides one of the most intimidating home atmospheres in college football. This year, however, that magic has faded — South Carolina has already dropped two games at home, including back-to-back losses to LSU (20-10) and Oklahoma (26-7). The latter marked another low point in a season full of frustration.
A Familiar Face on the Sidelines
There’s a touch of irony in Alabama’s upcoming trip to Columbia — the Gamecocks’ offensive coordinator is none other than Mike Shula, the former Crimson Tide quarterback and head coach. Shula, who led Alabama from 2003 to 2006 before being replaced by Nick Saban, took over play-calling duties under Beamer this year.
So far, results have been underwhelming. The offense has sputtered, leading to growing pressure on both Beamer and Shula. After the Oklahoma loss, Beamer was asked directly whether he was considering additional staff changes.
“I made a change last week,” Beamer said, referencing his decision to fire offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley before the Oklahoma game. “Every week, we’re continuing to look at how to be better, and every week I will continue to evaluate that. What gives me hope? I see the way we practice during the week. I see the number of guys that fought their asses off to get healthy and play. I know the talent we have — we’re just not playing up to our potential right now.”
For Shula, Saturday’s matchup presents a chance at redemption — and a chance to quiet critics — against the very program that once let him go.
LaNorris Sellers: Still the Key to Everything
Heading into the year, quarterback LaNorris Sellers was touted as a potential Heisman dark horse after flashing brilliance in 2024. While his production hasn’t quite matched the preseason hype, Sellers remains the heartbeat of South Carolina’s offense.
The dual-threat quarterback has been a consistent weapon when healthy. His mobility and arm strength are the type of combination that has historically given Alabama trouble. Sellers nearly engineered an upset in Tuscaloosa last season, helping spark a late-season run that just missed the playoff cut.
Asked after the Oklahoma defeat whether South Carolina could find that same spark again, Sellers stayed optimistic.
“All it takes is one,” he said. “Last year, the Oklahoma game was the one that sprung our run. All it takes is one.”
Through seven games, Sellers has thrown for 1,134 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions, while adding key yards on the ground. If South Carolina has any hope of pulling off the upset, it’ll be on his shoulders.
Final Word
Alabama enters Saturday’s game as the clear favorite, but overlooking a desperate South Carolina team could be dangerous. Between Beamer’s fight to save the season, Shula’s emotional connection to Alabama, and Sellers’ big-play potential, the Gamecocks may have just enough motivation to make things interesting inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
