Gamecocks Return Home for Showdown with No. 14 Oklahoma — Beamer Makes Key Staff Move, Updates Injuries Ahead of SEC Battle
After nearly a month away, South Carolina football is back at Williams-Brice Stadium, kicking off the first of two straight games against ranked opponents. The Gamecocks will host No. 14 Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon — their first home day game of the season.
Both squads enter the matchup seeking a rebound. South Carolina fell 20–10 to LSU last weekend, while Oklahoma dropped its rivalry clash with Texas, 23–6, in the Red River Rivalry.
This weekend marks Oklahoma’s first-ever trip to Columbia, with the Gamecocks leading the all-time series 1–0 after last year’s dominant 35–9 victory.
📺 Game Info
- Who: South Carolina (3–3, 1–3 SEC) vs. No. 14 Oklahoma (5–1, 1–1)
- When: Saturday, 12:45 p.m.
- Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
- TV: SEC Network
- Stream: ESPN.com / ESPN App
- Radio: Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker (Local)
- National Radio: Mark Kestecher, Kelly Stouffer, Ian Fitzsimmons (ESPN)
- Series: South Carolina leads 1–0
💰 Betting Line
Oklahoma opened as a 3.5-point favorite, but the line has since moved to 5.5, per VegasInsider.
- Oklahoma is 2–2 against the spread as a favorite of 5.5 or more.
- South Carolina is 1–1 as an underdog of at least 5.5 points.
🚑 Injury Report
The latest SEC athlete availability report listed seven Gamecocks, with four ruled out:
- Nolan Hay (OL)
- Cason Henry (OL)
- Brian Rowe Jr. (WR) – tied for 3rd on team in receptions (10)
- Davonte Miles (DL)
Meanwhile, Brandon Cisse (DB) and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (DL) were marked probable.
Head coach Shane Beamer gave an encouraging update Thursday night on Carolina Calls:
“Cisse should be good to go, and we’re optimistic about Brownlow-Dindy.”
For Oklahoma, three offensive linemen — Troy Everett, Jacob Sexton, and Jake Taylor — are out.
The SEC will release updated injury reports until 90 minutes before kickoff.
☀️ Weather in Columbia
Expect perfect football weather: sunny skies, 80°F, and light 6 mph winds — with no chance of rain, according to AccuWeather.
🔥 Top Storylines
1. Beamer Shakes Up Coaching Staff
Following the LSU loss, Shane Beamer made a bold move — firing offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley and promoting Shawn Elliott to the role.
Elliott, who coached the Gamecocks’ O-line from 2010–16 and spent nine years at Appalachian State, brings deep experience and energy.
Beamer confirmed:
“We’ll be tweaking some things up front. Shawn’s a lot more hands-on.”
South Carolina’s offensive line has been battered by injuries and inconsistency, allowing 20 sacks — second-most in the SEC.
2. Cleaning Up Penalties
The Gamecocks have been plagued by penalties, ranking as the second-most penalized team in the nation (55 total).
The offensive line alone has been flagged 15 times, with 11 false starts.
USC committed 13 penalties vs. LSU and 14 vs. Missouri earlier this season — a trend Elliott and Beamer want stopped immediately.
3. Brent Venables Returns to Familiar Territory
Though Oklahoma makes its first visit to Columbia, Sooners coach Brent Venables is no stranger to the Palmetto State.
Venables spent a decade as Clemson’s defensive coordinator — South Carolina’s fiercest rival — under Dabo Swinney.
Now leading a defense-first Sooners squad, Venables has Oklahoma allowing just 9.3 points per game and 211.1 yards per game, both tops in the SEC.
👀 Players to Watch
🕷️ South Carolina DE Dylan Stewart:
The sophomore was electric vs. LSU with five tackles (two for loss) and two QB hurries. He leads the SEC with 9.5 tackles for loss and has 3.5 sacks this season.
🚀 RB Matthew Fuller:
Fuller broke free for a 72-yard touchdown last week — the highlight of his young career. Beamer said the team plans to get him “more involved” alongside Rahsul Faison.
🎯 Oklahoma QB John Mateer:
The Washington State transfer returned from hand surgery and ranks first in the SEC in passing yards per game (283.4) with 1,417 yards and six TDs.
💪 DL Mason Thomas:
A returning All-SEC performer, Thomas already has 16 tackles and four sacks, ranking among the conference’s best.
📅 South Carolina 2025 Schedule (So Far)
- Aug. 31: W vs. Virginia Tech, 24–11
- Sept. 6: W vs. S.C. State, 38–10
- Sept. 13: L vs. Vanderbilt, 31–7
- Sept. 20: L vs. Missouri, 29–20
- Sept. 27: W vs. Kentucky, 35–13
- Oct. 11: L vs. LSU, 20–10
- Oct. 18: vs. No. 14 Oklahoma, 12:45 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Oct. 25: vs. No. 6 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
- Nov. 1: at No. 5 Ole Miss – TBD
- Nov. 15: at No. 4 Texas A&M – TBD
- Nov. 22: vs. Coastal Carolina – TBD
- Nov. 29: vs. Clemson – Noon (ABC/ESPN)
