Five Takeaways From South Carolina’s 2-0 Start Heading Into SEC Play
South Carolina’s 2-0 start marks a stark improvement from last year’s 4-8 finish, but with the non-conference “cupcake” portion of the schedule behind them, the real test arrives next week when Mississippi State visits Columbia.
1. The Offense Still Needs Polishing
South Carolina has been dominant statistically, outscoring opponents 102-9 through two games while amassing 1,147 total yards — a total that took the 2025 team four games to reach. Still, the Towson game exposed real rough edges. The Gamecocks’ first three drives ended in a fumble, a punt, and a missed field goal, and the offense didn’t find the end zone until 3:44 remained in the first half. Dropped passes plagued the unit throughout, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers finished a modest 10-of-23 for 96 yards. Even so, South Carolina still piled up 502 total yards in the win. While it’s fair to note the Gamecocks shouldn’t have faced much adversity against an FCS opponent, their ability to overcome that adversity — and do so decisively — is viewed as a good sign heading into SEC play.
2. The Run Game Has Been Transformed
Perhaps the most striking shift from last season is the ground attack. South Carolina finished No. 14 in the SEC in rushing a year ago, averaging just 118.06 yards per game. This year looks entirely different — the Gamecocks ran for 405 yards against Towson, the most in the Beamer era and third-most in program history. Through two games, South Carolina is averaging 341.5 rushing yards per game, totaling 683 rushing yards combined. While weaker opponents inflate those numbers somewhat, the broader trend matters: South Carolina has historically performed best under Beamer when it establishes a strong rushing attack, and early signs suggest that identity may be back.
3. Vicari Swain Remains a Legitimate Weapon
Vicari Swain continued building on a breakout 2025 campaign, in which he led all of college football with three punt-return touchdowns and ranked ninth nationally with 302 punt-return yards — production that earned him an All-SEC nod, despite being notably snubbed from this year’s preseason All-SEC teams. Against Towson, Swain returned two punts for touchdowns, pushing his career total to five — a new South Carolina program record. He also blocked a PAT during the game, reinforcing his all-around impact on special teams. Simply put: any time Swain fields a punt, he’s a threat to score — a reality both his own coaching staff and opposing teams fully understand heading into conference play.
4. The Kicker Competition Remains Unresolved
South Carolina still hasn’t settled on a starting placekicker. Max Kelley started again against Towson, going 1-for-2 on field goals (missing from 45, making from 33) and 3-for-3 on PATs, while Malik Orsan didn’t attempt a field goal but went 3-for-3 on extra points. Texas Tech transfer Upton Bellenfant remained out of action for the second straight week. Adding intrigue, transfer Ethan Sanchez — who joined the roster just two days before the season opener — has yet to make his Gamecock debut, sitting on the sideline against Towson in what was described as Beamer’s decision rather than an eligibility issue. With SEC play approaching, real questions remain about whether Sanchez will factor into the competition or whether Beamer simply sticks with Kelley going forward.
5. The Defense Looks Genuinely Stout
Clayton White’s defense has been a bright spot through two weeks, highlighted by a near-total shutdown of Towson’s run game — the Tigers spent much of the contest with negative rushing yardage, finishing with just 21 total rushing yards, the third-fewest allowed in program history and the fewest in the Beamer era. The improvement extends beyond one game: last season, South Carolina allowed 353 yards per game defensively; through two games this year, that number sits at just 192 yards per game. While the level of competition will rise significantly next week, the early defensive numbers suggest South Carolina is well-positioned heading into SEC play.
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