How to watch South Carolina vs. Kent State, And What to Know

South Carolina Opens 2026 Season Against Kent State:

South Carolina football kicks off its 2026 season Saturday, September 5, at 12:45 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium against Kent State, with the game airing on SEC Network. The Gamecocks enter as heavy favorites, with a betting line of 36.5 points per VegasInsider and an over/under set at 53.5. The two programs have met only once before, a 77-14 South Carolina blowout in October 1995 highlighted by Steve Taneyhill’s four-touchdown, 263-yard passing performance.

South Carolina comes into the year looking to rebound from a disappointing 4-8 season. Head coach Shane Beamer, entering his sixth year, made notable staff changes, bringing in offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and offensive line coach Randy Clements from TCU in hopes of reviving an offense that ranked 104th nationally in scoring (21.3 points per game) and 116th in rushing (111 yards per game) last season. The roster has also seen major turnover, with 42 new players joining the team, 25 of them via the transfer portal.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers headlines the players to watch. Once considered a Heisman Trophy candidate entering last season, Sellers saw both his passing and rushing numbers decline before choosing to return for a third year as starter rather than enter the NFL Draft. The hope is that Briles’ new system helps him rediscover the form he showed in 2024. On defense, linebacker Fred Johnson returns as a key leader after finishing third on the team with 61 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, last season — part of a linebacker group that also includes Shawn Murphy and Justin Okoronkwo and is expected to anchor the defense.

Kent State enters off a 5-7 season — its best mark since 2022 after a winless 2024 campaign — under second-year head coach Mark Carney, who was promoted from interim duties last October 30. The Flashes return seven starters on offense but just two on defense, and were picked to finish eighth in the 13-team MAC. Quarterback Dru DeShields, a second-team preseason all-MAC pick who overcame three ACL injuries earlier in his career, threw for 2,030 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in a breakout 2025 season. Wide receiver/kick returner Da’Realyst Clark brings serious big-play ability, having led the nation with two kickoff-return touchdowns and finished fourth nationally in kickoff return average at 28.3 yards, earning preseason All-American recognition from multiple outlets.

Looking ahead, South Carolina’s schedule ramps up quickly after Kent State, with matchups against Towson, Mississippi State, and a road trip to Alabama by the end of September, setting the stage for a challenging SEC slate through the fall.