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South Carolina is quickly emerging as a serious contender for the College Football Playoff in the upcoming season, and the man leading the charge is none other than Shane Beamer. It’s become undeniable that Beamer, the former Oklahoma assistant, is exactly what this program needed. Having worked alongside some of the game’s most respected coaches, including his father, Virginia Tech legend Frank Beamer, Shane’s biggest influence might be Steve Spurrier, the man who mentored him during his time in Columbia. Could Beamer be the one to finally turn South Carolina’s football fortunes around?

As a head coach, Beamer embodies the traits of a CEO. He’s the ideal spokesperson for this underdog program, blending motivational leadership with a clear vision. While some might see him more as a motivator than an intricate strategist, Beamer’s ability to maintain momentum and make key decisions—especially in roster retention—has been crucial. He and his staff worked tirelessly to keep star players like LaNorris Sellers and Dylan Stewart from entering the transfer portal, a move that underscores his foresight in an era where NIL deals are reshaping the college football landscape.

In an interview with On3’s Pete Nakos, Beamer emphasized the significance of roster retention and building a strong foundation for the future. “They didn’t need to go anywhere else to continue to accomplish what they wanted to accomplish here,” Beamer said. “They realized that everything we said in the recruiting process, we were going to do and be. That’s who we are. So it was a pretty simple process. We knew early in the season that the key for us was going to be to retain our roster. So we got to work on the particulars of that.”

Sellers, who made an immediate impact as the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback, and Stewart, a rising star on South Carolina’s feared pass rush, are just two reasons why the Gamecocks were on the brink of College Football Playoff contention at the end of last season. It’s a season that exceeded expectations, as many thought South Carolina would struggle just to make a bowl game.

But looking ahead, South Carolina is no longer just an intriguing pick for the playoff—they now seem poised to contend.

Beamer’s strategic approach to roster retention stands out as a key factor in South Carolina’s rise. Historically, the Gamecocks have faced an uphill battle, especially given the competition within the SEC and their fierce regional rival Clemson. South Carolina’s football program has often been inconsistent, despite a passionate fanbase. Before Beamer, the job was considered one that marked the twilight of many respected coaches’ careers. But Beamer is different. He’s bold, brash, and unafraid to challenge the established powers in the SEC.

His outspoken and unapologetic approach makes him both a polarizing figure and exactly the type of leader South Carolina needs in today’s college football landscape. Shane Beamer thrives in recruitment, possessing a keen eye for spotting potential in players who might not yet be fully realized. His confidence and bold leadership style help players unlock their full potential.

By ensuring that Sellers and Stewart stay in Columbia, Beamer has positioned South Carolina on the cusp of a major breakthrough, possibly ushering in an era of sustained success.

In a stunning twist, South Carolina’s women’s basketball team saw its SEC regular season winning streak come to an end with a hard-fought 66-62 loss at Texas. This marked the Gamecocks’ first SEC loss since December 30, 2021. While the defeat is disappointing, it’s important to note that the team’s goals remain very much in reach.

South Carolina (22-2, 10-1 SEC) still has a clear path to securing another SEC regular season title if they can win out in their final five games. This would also place them in a strong position as the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, with a real shot at taking the title there. And, as always, the NCAA Tournament looms large, with a fourth National Championship very much in sight.

As Head Coach Dawn Staley put it, “The law of averages says at some point somebody is going to get you. I’m just glad they didn’t get us where we can’t survive. We still control our own destiny.”

While having goals is crucial, the challenge remains to achieve them. A single close loss doesn’t alter the bigger picture, but it does highlight a recurring issue for the Gamecocks that could be concerning as the season progresses.

Both of South Carolina’s losses this year have featured dominant post players who have exploited the Gamecocks’ defense in the paint. In November, it was UCLA’s Lauren Betts, who notched a double-double and attacked the basket with ease. In this game, Texas’ Kyla Oldacre proved to be a force, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter and pushing around South Carolina’s frontcourt. This was such a problem that Staley made the decision to change up her rotation during crunch time.

Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter, with Sania Feagin getting the nod due to her ability to match up with Oldacre. Staley acknowledged, “They used Oldacre to finish us. She did a great job. She came through time and time again with crucial baskets.”

The stats paint a clear picture of Texas’ dominance inside, winning the paint battle 40-26 and outrebounding South Carolina 42-35. This marks the second time in a month that the Gamecocks have lost the rebounding battle to one of their top SEC rivals. Combined with previous losses to LSU, Tennessee, and UCLA in the rebounding category, it’s becoming clear that South Carolina is facing challenges on the boards against elite teams.

However, this issue—while significant—is almost a “luxury problem” for the Gamecocks. Their offense remains elite, their defense is top-notch, and their depth continues to outmatch most opponents. Still, the rebounding struggles, particularly since the injury to Ashlyn Watkins, are likely to persist throughout the season. South Carolina will need favorable matchups in the NCAA Tournament to avoid facing teams with dominant forwards.

“We give up too much when Chloe or Joyce are on her,” said Staley of Oldacre. “We could have tried Adhel Tac, she’s just not experienced enough. She’s a very experienced post player. I thought she brought it all home for them.”

As February rolls on and the regular season nears its conclusion, the Gamecocks are what they are: an incredibly talented team with one glaring weakness that they’ll need to work around. If the matchups are favorable, they remain one of the favorites to claim the National Championship, but only time will tell how they navigate these challenges in the coming months.

No. 2 South Carolina suffered a 66-62 defeat to No. 4 Texas on Sunday, marking just their second loss of the season. The Gamecocks are now 22-2 and 10-1 in SEC play. This loss also ends their 57-game SEC regular-season win streak, a streak that stretched back to December 2021.

“It’s unfamiliar territory for us,” Dawn Staley commented. “This is the first game that we’ve lost in two years, I think. The law of averages says at some point, somebody’s gonna get you.”

The outcome has shaken up the SEC standings, with both South Carolina and Texas now tied at the top of the conference, each holding a 10-1 record. The Gamecocks had defeated the Longhorns 67-50 in their previous matchup on January 12.

“I’m just glad they didn’t get us where we can’t survive,” Staley continued. “We still control our own destiny. We do have to look around a little bit and hope somebody knocks Texas or LSU off so we can control it for the rest of the way. I’m sure they’re going to think the same thing with us as well.”

Staley reflected on the game, saying, “We fought in this particular game. There are some things that we definitely can get better at. This type of game, you’re just trying to survive. You can’t really run your offenses. And players have to make plays at that point because you can design the play up, but they can blow it up with their defense, and they did that a lot tonight.”

She added that it’s different when you’re in the environment compared to practicing. “They disrupted us. We worked on some things that we could do to relieve the pressure, but it didn’t work. It’s a lot easier when you’re practicing and you’re not in this environment. It’s loud, and you can’t hear what the play call is, and you’ve got to improvise a little bit.”

When discussing the effect Texas and Oklahoma have on the SEC, Staley said, “I think them and Oklahoma just make us, not arguably the best conference in the country — we are. We are solidified with bringing them in. You’ve got a top five program, you’ve got a top 25 program coming into a league that’s already just unforgiving, and now it’s just survival at this point. Anybody can beat anybody.”

Staley then spoke on the similarities and differences between her team and Texas: “I think we’re pretty balanced. We’ve got what most people don’t have, which is post depth. We have the ability to be versatile. We defend pretty good. They’ve probably got the advantage in the rebounding. So we’ve got to get better in that area.”

After the Gamecocks outscored Texas 22-13 in the third quarter, Staley explained, “I think we came out and we did some things that we wanted to do. They had a lot to do with it. They disrupted us. And I think we had a smaller lineup in that we probably don’t practice as much as we need to practice in these types of situations.”

On using a four-guard lineup late in the game, Staley said, “We need Bree Hall on Madison Booker, or as much as we could stay matched up on her. So we thought we needed to go to a small lineup. They were pretty small as well. We weren’t getting anything from our bigs.”

When asked about defending Texas’ Kyla Oldacre, Staley responded, “Sania (Feagin) is the only one that can guard her — halfway guard her. We give up too much when Chloe Kitts or Joyce Edwards are on her.”

Finally, Staley discussed the significance of the game being featured before the Super Bowl. “Quite honestly, we’re it right now. Women’s basketball is it right now. They’re not gonna put just any women’s game on to be a prelude to the Super Bowl. They put it on because they know the ratings will be there. They knew it was going to be a tightly matched basketball game.”

She added, “I just hope now that people are seeing our game being showcased, that we’ll get the respect in all areas — revenue sharing — we get the respect in all areas that our game deserves.”

A hard-fought battle on Sunday highlighted the growing recognition of women’s basketball as South Carolina and Texas showcased their elite talent in a pivotal SEC showdown.

Good afternoon! It’s a highly anticipated matchup today as the No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball team heads to Austin, Texas, to face the No. 4 Texas Longhorns. Here’s everything you need to know for the game, including how to tune in, the latest predictions, odds, and injury updates.

Who’s Playing:

• No. 2 South Carolina (22-1, 10-0 SEC) vs. No. 4 Texas (23-2, 9-1 Big 12)

When: Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET

Where: Moody Center, Austin, Texas (10,763-seat arena)

How to Follow the Game

• TV Broadcast: ESPN will carry the game, with Ryan Ruocco handling play-by-play, Rebecca Lobo providing analysis, and Holly Rowe as the reporter.
• Streaming: You can stream the game on ESPN’s website or app with your TV provider login.
• South Carolina Radio/Streaming: Listen live on 107.5 FM (Columbia) or 96.3 FM (Florence). Brad Muller will call the game. The pregame show starts at 1:30 p.m. (in Columbia). Streaming is available on their website.
• Texas Radio/Streaming: The Longhorn Radio Network will broadcast the game, with streaming available on TexasSports.com.
• Satellite Radio/Streaming: Tune in to SiriusXM channels 191 or 211 or stream on SiriusXM.com.

Betting Info:

As of 10:35 a.m. on Sunday, South Carolina is favored by 2.5 points, with an over/under of 137.5.

Regarding the NCAA Women’s Tournament future odds, South Carolina is a moneyline favorite at +155 (bet $100 to win $155) on FanDuel, followed by UCLA (+390), Notre Dame (+500), UConn (+550), and Texas at +2000. On DraftKings, South Carolina’s odds are at +175, with Texas at +1300.

Predictions:

Here’s how some predictions are shaping up:

• Massey Ratings predicts a South Carolina win, 70-66, with a 58% chance for the Gamecocks to take the victory.
• Bart Torvik gives a similar result, predicting South Carolina 69, Texas 68, with the Gamecocks having a 51% chance.
• GamecockCentral and 107.5 The Game predictions include:
  • Tyler Head: Gamecocks 70-62
  • Kevin Miller: Gamecocks 78-66
  • Brian Shoemaker: Gamecocks 69-65
  • Jack Veltri: Gamecocks 73-63

Injury Report:

• South Carolina: Ashlyn Watkins is OUT for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL.
• Texas: Both Aaliyah Moore and Laila Phelia are OUT. Moore has been a starter in 19 games, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Phelia has appeared in 8 games, averaging 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds.

We’ll keep you updated throughout the game with live updates. Stay tuned to GamecockCentral for real-time commentary and join us on The Insiders Forum approximately 30 minutes before tip-off!

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball team (4-0) secured a doubleheader sweep on Saturday (Feb. 8), defeating Providence (0-3) 8-0 via the run rule and Saint Francis (0-3) 7-0.

Quincee Lilio and Karley Shelton were key to the Gamecocks’ offensive success, each recording three hits. Shelton and Ella Chancey both led the team with three runs scored, and four different players contributed with two RBIs each.

GAME ONE

Lilio opened the game for Carolina with a two-strike triple to left center in the bottom of the first. The Gamecocks went on to score five runs in the inning, benefiting from four walks, two hit-by-pitches, and a sacrifice fly.

Chancey began the second inning with a double, followed by a single from Brooke Blankenship. Lexi Winters then loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Abigail Knight followed with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Chancey home. Blankenship scored on a wild pitch, and Emily Vinson drove in Winters with a single up the middle.

The Gamecocks executed three inning-ending double plays, including a 6-4-3 double play that sealed the game in the fifth.

Kadie Becker earned her first win as a Gamecock, pitching four innings and allowing four hits. Olivia Kotowski made her debut, pitching the final inning in relief.

GAME TWO

Nealy Lamb dominated in the circle against Saint Francis, tossing five innings, striking out seven, and allowing only three hits. She also struck out the side in the second inning.

In the third inning, Shelton hit her first home run of the season, a 255-foot shot to center, giving Carolina a 1-0 lead.

Shelton added another RBI in the fifth with a single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Arianna Rodi that drove in another run. Chancey then hit an RBI double, and Winters brought in two more with a triple to left center.

That was all the Gamecocks needed, as Sam Gress entered in the sixth and retired the Red Flash in order. She pitched the final two innings, striking out two SFU batters.

South Carolina will look to remain undefeated with its final Gamecock Invitational game tomorrow (Feb. 9) at 3 p.m. against East Carolina.