South Carolina Hosts Mississippi State in SEC Opener: Everything You Need to Know / sportsearchers.com

South Carolina enters SEC play 2-0 after non-conference wins over Kent State and Towson, hosting Mississippi State for what shapes up as a compelling matchup between two of the conference’s top dual-threat quarterbacks — LaNorris Sellers and Kamario Taylor.

Game Info

When: Saturday, Sept. 19 at 4:15 p.m.
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
TV/Stream: SEC Network
Line: South Carolina by 5.5 points
Series History: South Carolina leads 10-7, having won the last matchup 37-30 in 2023

South Carolina’s Improved Offense

USC comes off a 45-9 win over Towson, part of a two-game stretch that’s produced 102 total points — the program’s best two-game start since scoring 110 in 1980. Notably, South Carolina remains one of four SEC teams yet to face a Power 4 opponent this season. The running game has been especially dominant, averaging 341.5 yards per game, trailing only service academies Army and Navy nationally. Both Sellers and RB Matt Fuller topped 100 rushing yards against Towson. Defensively, South Carolina is tied for first nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 4.5 points per game.

Adding a personal layer to the matchup, head coach Shane Beamer spent three seasons as an assistant at Mississippi State from 2004-06, where he also met his future wife, Emily.

About Mississippi State

The Bulldogs also enter 2-0, coming off a 38-13 road win over Minnesota — their first regular-season game against a Big Ten opponent since 1980 — in which they scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions. Mississippi State hasn’t had a winning season since 2022, and third-year coach Jeff Lebby, known for his offensive background at Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Central Florida, is looking to change that. The Bulldogs run a fast-paced, no-huddle “veer-and-shoot” spread offense.

Players to Watch: South Carolina

RB Matt Fuller enters after a career-high 125 rushing yards against Towson, playing a team-high 26 snaps among the running backs in a deep group that also includes transfers Christian Clark (Texas) and Jabree Coleman (Penn State).

DB/KR Vicari Swain reaffirmed his big-play ability with two punt-return touchdowns against Towson, pushing his career total to five — a new program record, surpassing the previous mark held by Dickie Harris. Swain also blocked an extra point in that game and has reportedly been lobbying to see snaps on offense, something worth watching against Mississippi State.

Players to Watch: Mississippi State

QB Kamario Taylor has given Bulldogs fans real reason for optimism, throwing for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns while rushing for 86 yards against Minnesota. Through two games, he’s accounted for 726 total yards and 7 touchdowns. CBS Sports analyst Charles Davis compared the 6-foot-4 Taylor’s playing style to dual-threat stars like Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, and Michael Vick.

DB Kelley Jones, a potential first-round NFL Draft pick who opted to return for another season, is projected as high as No. 22 overall in ESPN’s Jordan Reid’s latest 2027 mock draft. Jones allowed just seven catches all of last season with 11 pass breakups, and has already added 2 tackles and a pass breakup through two games this year.