Following last week's loss to LSU on Saturday night, the Gamecocks host the Akron Zips at Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 21 with a goal to begin the season with a 3-1 record with a win.
A 3-1 start would be the Gamecocks' best season-opening start since head coach Shane Beamer was hired in 2021.
The Gamecocks are coming off a loss to the LSU Tigers, falling 36-33 in front of a sold-out crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game was previewed by ESPN’s College GameDay, which took over Gamecock Park ahead of the game.
“(We’ve) got to move on,” Beamer said. “(We) can’t let last Saturday linger. It’s behind us, nothing we can do about it, and we’re full speed ahead on Akron.”
This will be the second all-time matchup between the Gamecocks and the Zips who last matched up in 2018. South Carolina defeated Akron 28-3 at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Akron enters the matchup with a 1-2 record, coming off a 31-20 win against the Colgate Raiders. The Zips had faced two opponents from the Big Ten Conference – No. 3 Ohio State and Rutgers – and did not fare well against either team.
High-profile teams are seeing plenty of trouble from many of Akron's conference foes this season, which hail from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Northern Illinois upset then-No. 5 Notre Dame 16-14 on Sept. 7, while Toledo Rockets defeated Mississippi State 41-17 one week later.
It is important that the team does not underestimate their opponent because they come from a conference that gets less attention, Beamer said.
Akron sometimes operates with double-quarterback sets on offense. While the Zips rely more heavily on junior Ben Finley, who has completed 50 passes so far this year, they could also give junior Tahj Bullock – who has 17 pass completions of his own – a share of playing opportunities.
“(Head coach Joe Moorhead) presents a unique style offensively,” Beamer said. “It’s a lot that our defense will have to prepare for.”
Fifth-year edge rusher Kyle Kennard said Akron’s offense presents a new challenge for the Gamecocks' defense, describing the Zips as a team that won’t just “roll over.”
“They add in a new wrinkle to their offense every week,” Kennard said. “We’re just preparing for whatever that may be for us.”
One of South Carolina's biggest questions heading into this contest is the status of redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who suffered an ankle injury against LSU last weekend. Beamer was noncommittal on whether Sellers will be able to play come Saturday but said Sellers' health is improving.
Beamer said that redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford and sixth-year quarterback Davis Beville are potential options if Sellers has to sit out.
“We told (Ashford) and (Beville) that they’ll continue to compete this week,” Beamer said. “LaNorris assures me he’s good and will be ready to roll.”
The Gamecocks logged a season-high 33 points in Saturday’s loss to the Tigers, a positive sign heading into this weekend's game against the Zips, whose defense is averaging over 40 points allowed across three games this season.
Freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. credits the offensive line's hard work helping players get to where they need to be on offense.
“We’ve got some dogs on our offensive line,” Bennett Jr. said. “I feel like they don’t get the respect that they deserve, but when they hold up and give LaNorris time to throw the ball downfield.”
South Carolina also had a strong offensive showing on the ground through senior running back Raheim Sanders, who rushed for 143 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns against LSU. Although Sanders has thrived as the feature back, Beamer said he wants to rotate players in the running back room to preserve their health.
“You can’t ask one guy to play 60, 70 plays at that position,” Beamer said. “(Sanders) is going to get worn down, so you have to be able to get other guys in there. They've got to continue to come along where we feel comfortable putting them in there, but we've also got to be willing to just throw them in there.”
The Gamecocks' matchup against Akron will be the second in a three-game home stand, which is separated by a bye week next week. After that bye week, South Carolina will play two high-quality SEC opponents – No. 5 Ole Miss at home, followed by No. 4 Alabama on the road.
South Carolina is currently a 28-point favorite heading into the Saturday night matchup, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and air on ESPNU.