Gamecocks Roll Early Against Kent State in Season Opener
Football is back in Columbia. The 2026 South Carolina Gamecocks are dominating their first game of a highly anticipated season, facing the Kent State Golden Flashes in Week 1.
First Half Scoring Breakdown
After a slow start due to pressure from the Golden Flashes, a 7-play, 87-yard drive ended with Matt Fuller scoring the first touchdown of the season for South Carolina.
The offense found its rhythm in the second quarter. Following another 80-yard drive, Sellers dished the ball to Mazeo Bennett Jr. for the second score and the season’s first touchdown pass.
Freshman transfer from Penn State Jabree Coleman opened his career with an explosive start, breaking off a 60-yard touchdown to push the lead to 22-0.
Irmo native Donavan Murph got on the board as well, hauling in a 29-yard strike from Sellers for Carolina’s fourth touchdown of the half.
South Carolina headed into the locker room at halftime leading 29-0.
Season Context
South Carolina enters 2026 looking to bounce back from a disappointing prior campaign. The Gamecocks retained several key pieces, including preseason All-American Dylan Stewart, quarterback LaNorris Sellers, and receiver Nyck Harbor.
After a promising 9-4 season in 2024, South Carolina fell to 4-8 in 2025, including a 1-7 mark in SEC play — a stretch marked by close losses that slipped away in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Shane Beamer will look to carry momentum into conference play with a 2-0 start, as the Gamecocks host Kent State and Towson back-to-back to open the year.
Historical Notes
South Carolina is 5-0 all-time in home openers at Williams-Brice Stadium, a streak dating back to a 46-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Sept. 4, 2021.
The two programs have met just once before — South Carolina won 77-14 over Kent State on Oct. 7, 1995 at Williams-Brice Stadium.
About Kent State
Kent State finished 5-7 in 2025, including a 4-4 mark in the MAC. The Gamecocks will need to keep an eye on receiver and punt returner Da’Realyst Clark, who posted two return touchdowns last season, including a 100-yard return against Merrimack. Redshirt junior Dru DeShields also returns as Kent State’s starting quarterback this season.
Broadcast Info
Kickoff is Saturday at 12:45 p.m., airing on SEC Network.
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