South Carolina Heads to College Station Seeking Season-Saving Upset
The South Carolina Gamecocks travel to College Station this weekend looking to shock the college football world with a major upset win. Shane Beamer’s team will square off against the undefeated No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies at noon on Saturday inside Kyle Field. A victory would end USC’s four-game losing skid, mark the program’s first-ever win at Texas A&M, and keep the Gamecocks’ postseason chances alive for at least another week.
Here’s the complete rundown heading into Saturday’s matchup:
Game Information: South Carolina vs. Texas A&M
- Who: South Carolina vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
- When: Noon Saturday
- Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN.com or ESPN app
- Broadcast crew: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor
- Local radio: Todd Ellis, Tommy Suggs, Chet Tucker
- Satellite radio: Sirius XM Channel 380
- Series: Texas A&M leads 9–2 (South Carolina won the 2024 meeting)
Betting Line
South Carolina enters the game as a significant underdog.
Texas A&M opened as an 18.5-point favorite, and by Thursday, the Aggies had moved to a 19.5-point favorite per the VegasInsider consensus.
Injury Report
The Gamecocks’ latest SEC-mandated injury update lists four players:
- Out: Cason Henry (OL), Jatavius Shivers (OL)
- Doubtful: Jalewis Solomon (DB)
- Questionable: Josiah Thompson (OL)
Weather in College Station
While it may be mid-November, Saturday’s conditions won’t reflect typical fall temperatures. AccuWeather projects:
- Mid-70s during tailgating hours
- Around 80° at kickoff
- Mid-80s through most of the game
- Temperatures dipping back into the 70s after the final whistle
Key Storylines
How will the new playcaller perform?
With the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Shula, Shane Beamer announced that wide receivers coach Mike Furrey will serve as the new playcaller. Furrey previously called plays at Limestone (Division II) and other stops in his career.
South Carolina’s offense has struggled all season, hovering at or near the bottom of the SEC statistically. Saturday will reveal whether Furrey can energize a unit in desperate need of a spark.
Are bowl dreams on the line?
South Carolina sits at 3–6 and must win out to reach bowl eligibility. The Gamecocks have historically performed well in November under Beamer, boasting a 13–5 record in the month and a 6–1 mark against ranked teams during his tenure—including last year’s win over Texas A&M.
Will USC drop five straight?
The Gamecocks have not lost more than four consecutive games since Beamer took over in 2021. The current four-game slide ties the low point of his era, last seen in 2023. South Carolina hasn’t lost five in a row since the 2020 season—and has never won a game in College Station.
Players to Watch
South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers
The spotlight will be on Sellers as Furrey’s playcalling debut unfolds. His season numbers fall short of his preseason expectations:
- 1,536 passing yards
- 7 touchdowns
- 5 interceptions
- 158 rushing yards with 3 TDs
How he responds to the offensive change will be crucial.
South Carolina DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy
The Gamecocks’ top-graded defender (via Pro Football Focus) will return to his former home in College Station. In his first season with USC, he has already logged more tackles (18) and played more snaps than during his entire time at Texas A&M.
Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed
Reed has emerged as one of the SEC’s most effective dual-threat quarterbacks:
- 2,193 passing yards (7th in SEC)
- 19 TDs, 6 INTs
- Multiple touchdown passes in all but two games
- 378 rushing yards and 6 rushing TDs (five in the last five games)
Texas A&M DE Cashius Howell
Howell anchors a dominant Aggie defensive front. His production is elite:
- SEC-leading 10.5 sacks
- 11.5 tackles for loss (3rd in SEC)
- 91.2 PFF pass rush grade — highest among SEC edge rushers with at least 20% of defensive snaps
He is also gaining early Day 1 NFL Draft attention.
South Carolina and Texas A&M kick off at noon Saturday on ESPN, with the Gamecocks aiming to rewrite their season in the most dramatic way possible.
