South Carolina Faces Baton Rouge Test as LSU Clash Opens Grueling SEC Stretch
Fresh off a bye week, South Carolina hits the road for a primetime showdown against No. 11 LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC) this Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
The Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2 SEC) will try to rewrite history against a program they’ve beaten just twice in 23 meetings — their lone wins coming in 1930 and 1994.
Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network, with DraftKings listing LSU as a 9.5-point favorite as of Thursday afternoon.
Here’s a closer look at the biggest storylines heading into the matchup:
1. Race to 50 — Rushing Yards, Not Points
No, that’s not a typo. Both offenses are battling to reach 50 rushing yards, not 50 points.
It’s been that kind of season on the ground for these two SEC squads.
Through five games, LSU ranks 13th in the league in rushing, averaging just 105 yards per game. South Carolina, somehow worse, is last in the SEC, managing under 100 rushing yards per contest — a number dragged down by the -9-yard disaster at Missouri.
Both Shane Beamer and Brian Kelly have acknowledged their run-game issues and promised improvement coming out of the bye week.
“Any offensive coordinator is going to try and start out with the running game,” said USC defensive coordinator Clayton White. “Nobody wants to sit back and throw it 60, 70 times. That’s not a good formula.”
Whether either side can truly fix its ground attack remains to be seen — or, as Jason Bateman once put it in Dodgeball, “It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ‘em.’”
2. The 2024 Revenge Narrative
It’s been a full year since LSU edged South Carolina 36-33 in a controversial thriller, and fans in Columbia haven’t forgotten.
The Gamecocks blew a 17-point lead and were haunted by penalties, but two questionable calls still sting: a phantom pass interference on Mazeo Bennett and a roughing-the-passer flag that nullified Nick Emmanwori’s would-be pick-six.
While Beamer insists his team isn’t using last year’s loss as motivation, it’s clear the memories remain fresh.
“I don’t think I need to bring it up,” Beamer said. “There’s enough guys on our team who were here (and) who remember last year. But, again, that has nothing in so many ways to do with this year’s team because there’s so many new faces. I remember it.”
3. Dylan Stewart Must Deliver
If South Carolina is going to upset LSU, edge rusher Dylan Stewart will likely be a big reason why.
In LSU’s loss to Ole Miss, the Rebels dared quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to beat them through the air by rushing just three defenders — and it worked. Nussmeier threw for under 200 yards, while LSU managed just 57 rushing yards.
If the Gamecocks can pressure Nussmeier with minimal blitzing, it could allow them to drop eight into coverage — and that starts with Stewart’s presence off the edge.
Last year, LSU’s Will Campbell completely neutralized Stewart. Afterward, Kelly was blunt:
“He just had a speed rush,” Kelly said. “(Tackle) Will Campbell took care of him and he wasn’t a factor.”
But Campbell is gone to the NFL, and LSU’s offensive line looks vulnerable. This is Stewart’s chance for redemption — and to wreck LSU’s rhythm.
4. Can the Gamecocks Handle Death Valley’s Chaos?
Even Shane Beamer seems to appreciate what his team is walking into.
While describing South Carolina’s practice prep for crowd noise, Beamer joked,
“You can’t simulate a hundred-plus thousand probably heavily intoxicated Louisianians.”
That line quickly made the rounds on LSU social media, with fans agreeing in rare unity.
“No lies told,” one Tiger fan wrote on X. “Death Valley gonna be lit.”
Jokes aside, crowd noise is a serious concern. South Carolina already struggled with communication and pre-snap penalties on the road at Missouri — and Tiger Stadium is a different beast entirely.
Since Brian Kelly arrived in 2022, LSU is 19-1 in home night games and has won 88% of night contests since 2000 (115-16).
If the Gamecocks can start fast, they might quiet the crowd. If not, the “heavily intoxicated Louisianians” will make life miserable.
5. Sellers vs. Nussmeier — A Redemption Duel
Entering the season, LaNorris Sellers and Garrett Nussmeier were hyped as two of the SEC’s best quarterbacks and possible NFL Draft risers.
Now, both find themselves trying to silence critics.
Nussmeier hasn’t looked the same since battling injury. His mechanics and confidence appear shaken, possibly due to a young offensive line.
Sellers, meanwhile, looked hesitant early in the year, unsure when to run or stay in the pocket. But his performance against Kentucky — 81 rushing yards on 14 carries and near-perfect passing — looked like a turning point.
Both QBs have the tools to dominate. Both also have something to prove. Saturday night will reveal which one takes the next step.
Prediction: LSU 23, South Carolina 20
Expect a gritty, physical contest where every yard is earned.
If the Gamecocks can pressure Nussmeier and limit penalties, an upset is possible.
But with Death Valley roaring and LSU coming off a loss, the Tigers might just hang on — barely.
