By James “Jim” Baxter | September 14, 2026
South Carolina college football is bigger than the Gamecocks and Tigers. Every Monday, the Palmetto Pigskin Roundup will travel across the state to recognize the teams, players and performances that deserve more attention.
Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers gave Ryan Beard his first victory as head coach by hammering Fordham 45–7. Deuce Bailey threw three touchdown passes as Coastal improved to 1–1. Up next: At Delaware.
South Carolina State: The Bulldogs improved to 3–0 by destroying Virginia State 66–0. The defense forced five turnovers, while Mason Pickett-Hicks rushed for 112 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Up next: At Furman on Saturday night.
Furman: Ben Croasdale broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown with 47 seconds remaining to give the Paladins a 20–13 win over ranked Mercer. That is the kind of finish that can change the direction of a season. Up next: South Carolina State visits Paladin Stadium.
Wofford: The Terriers led Kent State 15–14 at halftime but were shut out after the break in a 36–15 loss. Wofford managed only 67 yards and three first downs during the second half. Up next: At Chattanooga.
Charleston Southern: The Buccaneers earned their first win of the season by beating The Citadel 26–20 in double overtime. After two difficult road losses, CSU showed some toughness and found a way to finish. Up next: Point University at Buccaneer Field.
The Citadel: The Bulldogs suffered a painful double-overtime loss to Charleston Southern after having opportunities to put the game away. At 1–2, the open week arrives at a good time for a team that needs to regroup. Up next: Chattanooga on September 26.
Presbyterian: The Blue Hose were off this weekend and remain 1–1. The break gave Presbyterian additional time to prepare for a difficult road test. Up next: At Western Carolina.
Newberry: The Wolves battled Lenoir-Rhyne but came up short, 21–14, falling to 0–1–1. Newberry has been competitive defensively, but the offense needs to find another gear. Up next: At Wingate.
North Greenville: The Trailblazers moved to 2–0 with an impressive 42–31 road victory over Charleston. NGU produced 493 yards of offense and showed plenty of composure while rallying from behind. Up next: At West Alabama.
Anderson: Wilson Edwards delivered the best individual quarterback performance in the state outside the Power Four, completing 24 of 37 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns in a 39–21 victory over UVA Wise. The Trojans are now 2–1 and 1–0 in the SAC. Up next: Tusculum.
Benedict: The Tigers had the weekend off after opening the season 2–0. Benedict has already shown it can win comfortably and survive a tight road game. Up next: At Fort Valley State.
Allen: The Yellow Jackets opened SIAC play by crushing Lane 43–7 and improving to 2–1. That was Allen’s most complete performance of the young season. Up next: Albany State in Columbia.
Erskine: The Flying Fleet remained unbeaten with a 62–3 demolition of Thomas University. Erskine is 2–0 and has scored 104 points through its first two games. Up next: Brevard.
Palmetto Game Ball
Wilson Edwards, Anderson: Four touchdown passes, 308 yards and a conference road victory make Edwards the easy choice for our first Palmetto Pigskin Game Ball.
Game to Watch
South Carolina State at Furman: The unbeaten Bulldogs meet a Paladins team coming off a dramatic victory over a ranked opponent. It is the biggest all-South Carolina matchup on next weekend’s schedule—and exactly the kind of game the Palmetto Pigskin Roundup was created to spotlight.
Follow JB Talking Sportz for South Carolina football coverage that goes beyond the usual headlines.
