After a bruising 4‑8 campaign in 2025, the South Carolina Gamecocks are turning the page toward the 2026 season, a year that begins with a fresh batch of preseason workouts and a schedule that promises high‑profile matchups.
Coach Shane Beamer, who has been away from the program for 251 days following his previous departure, is back on the sidelines as the team opens practice on August 7, setting the stage for a September 5 season opener against Kent State that will be streamed on the SEC Network at 12:45 p.m. ET.
The roster will feature several familiar faces, including quarterback LaNorris Sellers, edge rusher Dylan Stewart and wide receiver Nyck Harbor, but the depth chart is clouded by injuries; Stewart is still nursing a back issue, while offensive lineman Jacarrius Peak missed spring drills after a knee injury sustained in basketball.
Other returning starters such as tight end Brady Hunt, offensive linemen Shedrick Sarratt Jr. and Josiah Thompson, defensive backs Peyton Williams and Judge Collier, and linebackers Justin Okoronkwo and Fred 'JayR' Johnson are expected to anchor the unit, even as the competition at quarterback remains unsettled without a spring game to clarify roles.
Season Outlook
Beamer’s recent record — seven wins in 2021, eight in 2022, a dip to five in 2023, a rebound to nine in 2024, and the recent downturn — illustrates the volatility he has overseen, yet the program’s leadership believes the combination of experienced returnees, a highly ranked recruiting class and a challenging but exciting schedule could spark the turnaround the fan base has been awaiting.