South Carolina Faces vs Alabama: Series History, & How To Watch Tough Road Test at No. 8 Alabama
South Carolina heads into Week 4 looking to bounce back after its collapse against Mississippi State, traveling to Tuscaloosa to face No. 8 Alabama — a significant step up in competition for the 2-1 Gamecocks.
Game Info and Betting Odds
- When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
- Where: Bryant Denny Stadium
- TV/Stream: ESPN
- Series history: Alabama has won three straight and leads the all-time series 15-3; South Carolina’s last win over the Crimson Tide came in 2010 (35-21)
- Opening line: Alabama opened as an 11.5-point favorite, marking the first time South Carolina has been an underdog this season
South Carolina Coming Off a Tough Loss
The Gamecocks couldn’t hold onto a 16-point lead in their 41-34 SEC-opening loss to Mississippi State, dropping Beamer’s record to 1-5 in conference openers. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers had one of his roughest halves of the season, throwing interceptions on back-to-back possessions in the second half. Defensively, South Carolina allowed 393 yards of offense against Mississippi State — nearly matching the 382 total yards it had allowed across its first two games combined.
Despite the loss, South Carolina’s offense has shown real firepower, surpassing 430 yards of total offense in each of its first three games — the first time the program has done so since 2014. Beamer, notably, is 0-2 as head coach against Alabama, though he was on staff the last time South Carolina beat the Crimson Tide back in 2010.
Alabama Enters as a Juggernaut
The Crimson Tide sit at 3-0, fresh off a 50-36 win over Florida State in a game interrupted by two lightning delays. Alabama scored on nine straight drives and finished with 567 total yards. The Tide are averaging a staggering 47.6 points per game, and their defense has forced seven turnovers through three games — the most since forcing eight in 2019. Third-year coach Kalen DeBoer is 15-1 at home, and Alabama has won an astonishing 90 straight home games against unranked opponents.
Players to Watch: South Carolina
Dylan Stewart, DE — The preseason All-SEC pick made his season debut against Mississippi State on a 15-20 snap limit, playing 14 snaps and recording a tackle for loss and two QB hurries.
Matthew Fuller, RB — Fuller has scored in all three games this season, totaling 365 yards and four touchdowns, including a receiving and rushing score against Mississippi State (158 total yards that game).
Players to Watch: Alabama
Keelon Russell, QB — The former 2024-25 Gatorade National Player of the Year has been sharp in his first season as starter, throwing for 764 yards and 4 touchdowns while adding 184 rushing yards and 2 scores through three games, highlighted by a 320-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Florida State.
Devan Thompkins, DL — The USC (Trojans) transfer leads Alabama with 3 sacks and ranks third on the team with 12 tackles, earning SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after a six-tackle, two-sack outing against Kentucky.
With South Carolina as an underdog for the first time this season and Alabama riding one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, this matchup presents a genuine test of how the Gamecocks respond after last week’s disappointing collapse.
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