GAME PREVIEW
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 3:30 PM ET
Williams-Brice Stadium | Columbia, South Carolina
WHICH SOUTH CAROLINA TEAM WILL SHOW UP AGAINST TENNESSEE?
By James Baxter | JB Talking Sports
I’ve spent a lot of years around football, both coaching and evaluating players, and one thing I’ve learned is that a single impressive performance doesn’t necessarily mean a football team has turned the corner.
That’s why I’m approaching South Carolina’s upcoming game against Tennessee with considerable skepticism.
Two weeks ago, the Gamecocks went into Gainesville and thoroughly whipped Florida 38-19. It was easily their most impressive performance of the season, particularly considering how poorly they had played in losses to Mississippi State, Alabama, and Kentucky.
For the first time in several weeks, South Carolina looked like the football team many of us expected to see when the season began.
LaNorris Sellers played with confidence. The offense demonstrated some creativity. The Gamecocks made explosive plays, and the coaching staff appeared to have a plan that actually complemented the personnel.
But here’s my problem.
Where the hell was that football team against Mississippi State and Kentucky?
And perhaps more importantly, will we see that same team Saturday against Tennessee?
I’m not convinced.
TENNESSEE IS COMING TO COLUMBIA WITH MOMENTUM
The Volunteers are 6-1 following an impressive 26-10 victory over Alabama.
And unlike South Carolina, Tennessee has demonstrated an ability to win games without requiring its quarterback to carry the entire offense.
Running back DeSean Bishop was outstanding against Alabama, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
What impressed me most was his second-half performance. Bishop gained 97 yards after halftime and scored both of his touchdowns during that stretch.
That’s the kind of production that wins football games in the SEC.
Quarterback George MacIntyre completed 21 of 31 passes for 197 yards against Alabama. Those aren’t spectacular numbers, but Tennessee didn’t need spectacular quarterback play to beat the Crimson Tide.
The Volunteers controlled the game with their defense and running attack.
And that’s precisely what concerns me about this matchup.
South Carolina has demonstrated vulnerabilities against the run, particularly when opposing offenses establish themselves physically at the line of scrimmage.
Tennessee has the personnel to exploit those weaknesses.
WHICH LaNORRIS SELLERS WILL WE SEE?
Against Florida, Sellers completed 23 of 35 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception.
He also scored a rushing touchdown.
That was the kind of performance we expected from Sellers entering the season.
But I’ve been critical of his development, particularly his ability to process defensive information, anticipate throwing windows, and consistently deliver accurate passes.
Those concerns haven’t disappeared because he played one outstanding game.
The Florida performance demonstrated what Sellers is capable of doing when he’s comfortable and operating within the offense.
The question is whether he can reproduce that performance against a Tennessee defense that just held Alabama to 10 points.
I expect Tennessee to challenge Sellers mentally.
They’re going to try to disrupt his timing, disguise coverage responsibilities, and force him to make decisions under pressure.
This is where quarterback development becomes important.
Physical talent can get you out of trouble occasionally.
But against quality SEC defenses, the ability to process information accurately and quickly is what separates good quarterbacks from great ones.
Sellers must demonstrate that the Florida game wasn’t an exception.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE WILL BE TESTED
One of my biggest concerns entering this season was South Carolina’s offensive line.
And while there have been moments of improvement, I’m still not convinced this group can consistently control the line of scrimmage against quality SEC competition.
Tennessee’s defense just demonstrated its ability to limit Alabama’s offensive production.
The Volunteers aren’t going to sit back and allow Sellers to operate comfortably.
South Carolina must establish enough of a running game to keep Tennessee from dictating the defensive approach.
If the Gamecocks become one-dimensional, they’re going to have problems.
Kendall Briles needs to utilize Sellers’ mobility without making him the entire running game.
I’d also like to see more emphasis on quick-developing passing concepts, particularly early in the game.
Make Tennessee defend the entire field.
Don’t allow the Volunteers to settle into a predictable defensive rhythm.
SOUTH CAROLINA MUST STOP DESEAN BISHOP
This might be the most important matchup of the afternoon.
Bishop demonstrated against Alabama that he can take over a football game.
South Carolina cannot allow him to consistently reach the second level of the defense.
That means winning first down.
It means maintaining gap discipline.
And it means tackling.
I’ve been concerned about South Carolina’s defensive consistency throughout the season, particularly when opponents establish a physical running game.
Tennessee will test that weakness.
If Bishop is consistently gaining five or six yards on first down, the Volunteers are going to control the tempo.
And if Tennessee controls the tempo, South Carolina’s offense could spend much of the afternoon watching from the sideline.
THE FLORIDA GAME DOESN’T ERASE THE PREVIOUS THREE LOSSES
This is something I believe needs to be emphasized.
South Carolina lost to Mississippi State 41-34.
The Gamecocks were embarrassed by Alabama 49-18.
And they lost a game to Kentucky 35-34 that they absolutely should have been capable of winning.
Then they went into Gainesville and beat Florida by 19 points.
That’s an enormous swing in performance.
I don’t believe the difference in talent between those opponents explains everything.
To me, it raises legitimate questions about preparation, execution, and coaching consistency.
The Florida victory was encouraging.
But one victory doesn’t erase the mistakes that contributed to those previous losses.
And it certainly doesn’t establish that those problems have been corrected.
Consistency is the hallmark of a well-coached football team.
That’s what I want to see Saturday.
FIVE KEYS TO A SOUTH CAROLINA VICTORY
1. Establish the running game.
South Carolina cannot expect Sellers to throw the football 35 or 40 times and carry the offense against Tennessee.
2. Contain DeSean Bishop.
The Gamecocks must prevent Tennessee from controlling the game on the ground.
3. Win the turnover battle.
Against a quality opponent, South Carolina cannot afford to give away possessions.
4. Get Nyck Harbor involved vertically.
Harbor caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown against Florida. His speed can stretch Tennessee’s secondary and create opportunities underneath.
5. Play four quarters of disciplined football.
No unnecessary penalties. No blown assignments. No questionable fourth-down decisions that unnecessarily shift momentum.
Make Tennessee earn everything.
JB’S GAME PREDICTION
I believe South Carolina is capable of beating Tennessee.
The Florida game demonstrated that.
And Williams-Brice Stadium can be a difficult environment for visiting teams when the Gamecocks give the crowd something to get excited about.
But I’m not prepared to assume that the team we saw in Gainesville is the team we’re going to see Saturday.
Tennessee is playing good football.
The Volunteers are coming off a convincing victory over Alabama, and they have demonstrated the ability to win with defense and a physical running attack.
Those are two areas that concern me when evaluating South Carolina.
I expect the Gamecocks to compete, particularly early.
But unless South Carolina can establish offensive consistency and prevent Tennessee from controlling the line of scrimmage, I believe the Volunteers will eventually take control.
JB’S PREDICTION
TENNESSEE 31
SOUTH CAROLINA 24
I’d love to be wrong.
But until South Carolina demonstrates that it can put together consecutive quality performances against SEC opponents, I’m not going to predict victories based on what this team might be capable of doing.
Potential doesn’t win football games. Execution does.
And right now, Tennessee has given me more reasons to trust its execution than South Carolina has.
