COLUMBIA — After South Carolina’s 29–22 loss to No. 4 Alabama, head coach Shane Beamer confirmed what many already suspected — the Gamecocks simplified their offensive game plan.
It was hard not to draw comparisons to 2022, when South Carolina rebounded from a six-point showing against Florida to score 63 points in a shocking upset of No. 5 Tennessee. Beamer admitted then that the staff had “streamlined” the offense — and for a moment on Saturday, it looked like history might repeat itself.
But the numbers tell a different story this time.
The 2025 Gamecocks managed just 39 total points in October, far from the offensive explosion of 2022. Even in the near-upset against Alabama, South Carolina’s offense wasn’t exactly dominant. The Gamecocks produced 333 total yards, converted 35% on third down, and scored only one touchdown on three red-zone trips.
Still, it was noticeably better than anything the team had shown all year.
So, how much was the offense simplified?
“It wasn’t drastic,” Beamer explained. “(It was maybe) 15 less than what we had against Oklahoma. When you do that, you’re able to practice it against more (defensive) looks in practice.”
Simplifying the playbook wasn’t the only change — new wrinkles were added. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw more passes on the move than he had all season, with offensive coordinator Mike Shula calling more rollouts and sprint options to utilize his mobility.
One of Shula’s consistent strengths this season has been his opening script of plays, known as “openers.” South Carolina’s first drive often looks sharp and efficient — but once those scripted plays end, the rhythm fades.
Beamer admitted that he’s questioned why those early plays aren’t used more often.
“I’m looking at these openers of our top 10 to 20 plays,” Beamer said. “There’s some really good stuff in here because of what we’re doing schematically. And I said something along the lines of, ‘We’ve got 20 plays here. To me, we can just keep calling these same 20 over and over again, because this is really our best stuff.’”
So, is South Carolina’s offense fixed?
Not quite — but it’s trending upward. The offensive line looked stronger and more cohesive against Alabama, and if that group can stay healthy, the Gamecocks could continue to build on that progress.
Unfortunately, time isn’t on their side. With only four games remaining, including road trips to No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 3 Texas A&M, South Carolina’s late-season improvements may come too late to salvage the year.
For fans, it’s a bittersweet development — proof that the offense can work, paired with the frustration that it took until late October to see it.
As Beamer noted, the offense didn’t change dramatically. But it evolved, and for a team still searching for rhythm, even small improvements matter. The Gamecocks may not be peaking in November like great teams do — but if the Alabama game was any indication, they could be better against Clemson than they were in Tuscaloosa.
How much better? That’s the next question South Carolina will have to answer.
