South Carolina Prepares for Another Top-10 Test: Gamecocks Head to Ole Miss Under the Lights
South Carolina football is on the road again — this time heading into one of its toughest matchups of the season.
Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks (3-5, 1-5 SEC) will travel to Oxford to take on No. 7 Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1 SEC) on Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. South Carolina will try to snap a three-game skid, while the Rebels look to strengthen their College Football Playoff hopes.
Game Details
- Who: South Carolina vs. No. 7 Ole Miss
- When: 7 p.m. ET, Saturday
- Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN.com or ESPN app
- Radio: Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker (Local); SiriusXM Channel 380
- Announcers: Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, Kris Budden
- Series History: Ole Miss leads 10–8 and won the most recent meeting in 2024
Betting Line
According to the latest VegasInsider consensus, South Carolina enters as a 12.5-point underdog, after Ole Miss initially opened as a 13.5-point favorite.
Injury Report
The Gamecocks will be without several key contributors.
The SEC’s Thursday injury report listed three players as unavailable:
- Cason Henry (offensive lineman, season-ending shoulder injury)
- Jayden Sellers (wide receiver)
- Buddy Mack III (defensive back and special teams standout)
Weather in Oxford
Fans making the trip to Oxford should pack for cooler weather — mid-50s temperatures at kickoff and possibly dipping into the 40s by game’s end.
According to AccuWeather, there’s also a chance of rain during the game, which could make things slippery under the lights.
Key Storylines
Can the offense keep building momentum?
Despite last week’s 29–22 loss to Alabama, South Carolina’s offense showed encouraging signs, totaling 333 yards — its second-highest mark of the season.
Defensive consistency will be critical.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White’s unit held Alabama to just 11 yards in the first quarter and even forced a key turnover. The Gamecocks will need a similar start to contain Ole Miss’ explosive attack.
Avoiding a four-game losing streak.
A loss in Oxford would mark South Carolina’s second four-game skid under Shane Beamer — the only other coming in 2023, when the team finished 5–7.
Players to Watch
South Carolina DB Vicari Swain – The freshman shined against Alabama, earning a 72.8 defensive grade from PFF, his highest of the season. Swain recorded two tackles, a strip sack, and allowed just 11 receiving yards.
South Carolina RB Matt Fuller – Fuller continues to see more action, playing 34 snaps and logging 12 carries last week. Though he managed only 19 yards, his workload shows growing trust from the coaching staff.
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss – One of college football’s best underdog stories, Chambliss transferred from Division II Ferris State and has since gone 5–1 as a starter. He’s piled up 2,240 total yards and 14 touchdowns, with only one interception.
Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy – The sophomore ranks No. 4 in the SEC with 696 rushing yards and leads the league with 12 rushing touchdowns.
The Gamecocks and Rebels will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN as South Carolina looks to shock the college football world and end its losing streak in Oxford.
