South Carolina football will look a little different in 2025 — but not because of coaching changes. Instead, the Gamecocks are switching up one of their long-standing traditions.
Ahead of Saturday’s home matchup against Coastal Carolina, USC announced it will hold Senior Day one week earlier than usual, honoring 23 veteran players before the Chanticleers game rather than during the traditional season finale against Clemson on Nov. 29.
Head coach Shane Beamer explained the decision on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, noting he wanted to try a different approach for rivalry week.
“Before I came here, I think senior day was always the week before the Clemson game. And when I came in, I moved it back to the Clemson game,” Beamer said. “More and more I thought about it … We haven’t played great against Clemson at home in my first two seasons when Clemson came here. So I just thought it might be good to just shake it up.”
Beamer has yet to beat Clemson inside Williams-Brice Stadium (0-2), with home losses in 2021 and 2023. Ironically, he’s undefeated against the Tigers on their turf (2-0). But Beamer emphasized his decision wasn’t strictly tied to performance.
“Not so much because of Clemson, just to do it differently,” he continued. “Rivalry weekend is extra emotional already … when you do senior day along with it, certainly that adds to the emotion.”
A Shift in Tradition — But Not an Unprecedented One
This season marks the earliest Clemson has played at Williams-Brice during Beamer’s tenure. When USC hosted the Tigers in 2021 and 2023, both games were under the lights. Their final home contests of 2022 and 2024 also kicked off in prime-time windows.
Interestingly, Clemson has followed a similar pattern in recent years. When the Tigers host South Carolina for their home finale — as they did in 2024 — they also move their Senior Day to the previous week.
Former Gamecock coach Will Muschamp used the same system from 2016 to 2020, holding Senior Day during the penultimate home game in years USC hosted Clemson.
Beamer noted that while the move doesn’t guarantee on-field success next week, it felt like the right adjustment.
“Doesn’t mean we’re necessarily going to play great next week against Clemson,” said Beamer, whose 3-7 Gamecocks have already missed bowl eligibility. “Really just felt like we’ll shake it up and do something different this year.”
Saturday’s Senior Day ceremony will begin at 3:50 p.m., shortly before the 4:15 p.m. kickoff against Coastal Carolina.
“There’s some special young men in that group that have given a lot to Gamecock football,” Beamer said. “Some guys that were here before I even got hired as the head coach, that have now been here for five seasons with me alone, plus one with Coach Muschamp.”
2025 South Carolina Senior Honorees
Offense:
- Oscar Adaway III (RB)
- Jared Brown (WR)
- Jordan Dingle (TE)
- Luke Doty (QB)
- Bradley Dunn (RB)
- Rahsul Faison (RB)
- Nathan Harris-Waynick (RB)
- William Joyce (K)
- Chase McCracken (RB)
- Cole Rasmussen (LS)
- Eriq Rice (WR)
- Larry Scott (RB)
Defense:
- Nick Barrett (DT)
- Colin Bryant (LB)
- Demon Clowney (EDGE)
- Andrew Colasurdo (LB)
- Monkell Goodwine (DL)
- Jatius Geer (EDGE)
- Buddy Mack III (DB)
- DQ Smith (DB)
- Bryan Thomas Jr. (EDGE)
Special Teams / OL:
- Rodney Newsom Jr. (OL)
- Chase Sweigart (OL)
