Shane Beamer Climbs SEC Coaching Ranks as South Carolina Eyes Breakthrough Season
The South Carolina Gamecocks aren’t the only ones on the rise—head coach Shane Beamer is gaining national recognition, too. In CBS Sports’ latest SEC Head Coach Rankings, Beamer jumped four spots, moving from No. 12 to No. 8 heading into the 2025-26 season. Even more impressively, he broke into the Top 30 nationally, landing at No. 28 overall.
CBS credited Beamer’s rise to his steady growth as a program builder and his knack for winning key rivalry games.
“Beamer has won more games than any coach in program history over his first four seasons, topping Steve Spurrier by one,” CBS wrote.
“That came in last year’s regular-season finale at Clemson, his second win in the last three years against the Gamecocks’ archrival. With that level of production, Beamer’s going to have this job in Columbia as long as he wants it and believes South Carolina can get to a conference title and playoff appearance under his watch.”
A Record-Setting Start
Beamer holds a 29–22 record (.569) since taking over in 2021, and the trajectory has only gone up. In four seasons, South Carolina has reached three bowl games and made significant strides in recruiting and performance.
The 2024 season was a major step forward. The Gamecocks went 9–3 in the regular season, notching huge wins over multiple AP Top 25 opponents. That stretch included:
- A dominant win over in-state rival Clemson
- Three SEC road victories
- A clean sweep of all three trophy games—a first in program history
What’s Next?
Beamer and the Gamecocks are looking to build on that success. The team reports to campus on July 31, with fall camp kicking off on August 1.
South Carolina opens its 2025 campaign in Atlanta on August 31 against Virginia Tech, followed by the home opener at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 6 vs. SC State.
With a rising national profile, an upgraded roster, and Beamer’s name climbing the ranks, the Gamecocks are poised to make a serious run in the SEC — and maybe, just maybe, a College Football Playoff appearance.
